Question

If a strand of DNA that is not a replicon enters a bacterial cell:

A. it will be replicated as a separate piece of DNA by DNA Polymerase
B. it will circularize and form a plasmid to remain a stable functional DNA
C. it needs to be integrated onto the host chromosome in order to be replicated by DNA polymerase
D. none of the above could occur

Answer 1

C. it needs to be integrated onto the host chromosome in order to be replicated by DNA polymerase

Step-by-step explanation:

A replicon is a piece of DNA that is capable of independent replication. Replicon has "origin of replication" to serve as the site for the start of the process of DNA replication and terminus where the process stops.

If a replicon enters a cell, it can replicate itself independent of the host chromosome. However, a DNA sequence that is not a replicon does not have an origin of replication and terminus to start and end the process of replication respectively. If such a sequence enters a host cell, it should be ligated to the host chromosome so that it can be replicated along with the host chromosome.