May I know the difference between transformant and recombinant?
I have identified a new gene from bacteria A and cloned into a plasmid. After that, I transformed the plasmid into bacteria B and the gene is being expressed. So the one that I created is known as transformant is it?
I would say there are some subtle differences between a transformant and a recombinant.
First of all, a transformant is a cell or a host cell (like E. coli) in which you transformed external DNA or usually plasmid DNA.
A DNA is said to be recombinant DNA or rDNA when it is a chimera of different DNAs. So, a plasmid DNA is said to be recombinant when it recombines pieces of DNA from multiple genes.
So, basically, a transformant expresses recombinant DNA.
Hope I could make it clear.
I would say there are some subtle differences between a transformant and a recombinant.
First of all, a transformant is a cell or a host cell (like E. coli) in which you transformed external DNA or usually plasmid DNA.
A DNA is said to be recombinant DNA or rDNA when it is a chimera of different DNAs. So, a plasmid DNA is said to be recombinant when it recombines pieces of DNA from multiple genes.
So, basically, a transformant expresses recombinant DNA.
Hope I could make it clear.
A recombinant refers to a combinantion of different DNA of interest from defferent sources incorporated artificially . The recombinant DNA molecules are taken up artificially by a different cell( say bacteria) through a process a called transformation. Hence the cell which uptake a foriegn recombinant DNA(plasmid) and express it is called a tranformant.
So the bacteria B is a tranformant expressing your gene of interest.
Be careful with context here. Recombinant might refer to recombination into the chromosome for some applications. With respect to your description the best wording to use is 'transformant'. You have essentially 'transformed' the bacterial cell to a new genotype and most likely a new phenotype by introducing a recombinant plasmid. I hope this helps.
transformation: Uptake of naked (not included in a cell or a viral particle) Dna.
recombination: Rearrangement of DNA molecules
therefore, DNA acquired by transformation may be inserted in a cellular DNA molecule (chromosome or plasmid) by recombination. Obviously, DNA acquired by transformation may have been obtained by recombination (e.g. A recombinant plasmid)
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