Final answer:
A collection of various recombinant molecules that can be stored and replicated is known as a DNA library, which includes recombinant DNA molecules inserted into plasmids for genetic analysis, research, and production of recombinant proteins.
Step-by-step explanation:
A collection of many different recombinant molecules that can be maintained and replicated when needed is called a DNA library. This is a crucial tool in molecular biology that allows researchers to store genetic information for further analysis or use in various applications such as study, research, and medicinal product development.
Plasmids with foreign DNA inserted into them are called recombinant DNA molecules, as they do not occur naturally and are instead created through the process of molecular cloning. Such recombinant molecules can be part of a genomic library, which is a large collection of DNA fragments from an organism's genome. Not all plasmids are capable of expressing genes, so sometimes recombinant DNA needs to be moved to another vector that is suitable for gene expression. Furthermore, these plasmids can be engineered to produce proteins under specific conditions, allowing scientists to control the expression of recombinant proteins efficiently.
Molecular cloning is the process that enables this by inserting a fragment of DNA into a plasmid vector, which is then introduced into a host cell such as a bacterium. As the bacterial cell replicates its DNA, it also replicates the recombinant DNA, resulting in multiple copies of a gene or DNA sequence. This can then be used for protein production or further scientific research.