Final answer:
The first yeast replicators were identified using a DNA transformation assay, a method that leverages yeast's quick reproductive cycles and the use of Autonomously Replicating Sequences (ARS) for genetic studies and engineering.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first yeast replicators were indeed identified using a DNA transformation assay. This method involves introducing foreign DNA into a yeast cell and observing the effects of the mutation on cell reproduction and growth. Yeast is particularly favorable for genetic studies due to its rapid asexual and sexual reproduction cycles, making it an excellent eukaryotic model to study mutagenesis.
These mutations are useful for tracking genetic alterations and verifying successful transformation. The concept of transformation in yeast also extends to the use of Autonomously Replicating Sequences (ARS), which are the equivalent of bacterial origins of replication. Yeast Artificial Chromosomes (YACs) employ these sequences, enabling the yeast to accept and replicate large inserts of foreign DNA, thus being a critical tool in genetic engineering and cloning vectors.