Final answer:
A plasmid is a small circular, independent double-stranded DNA molecule found in bacteria that can carry genes providing beneficial traits like antibiotic resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
A plasmid is a small circular, independent double-stranded DNA molecule found in bacteria that can carry genes providing beneficial traits like antibiotic resistance. A plasmid is a small circular, independent double-stranded DNA molecule found in bacteria and sometimes in archaea and eukaryotic organisms. Plasmids can carry genes that may be beneficial to the bacterial host, such as those providing antibiotic resistance or enabling the production of antibiotics.
They replicate independently of the bacterial chromosome and can be transferred from one bacterium to another, playing a crucial role in bacterial genetics and biotechnology applications, such as molecular cloning and gene therapy.