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[[Image:Antibiotic Resistance Markers.jpg|thumb|right|Example application of selectable genetic markers in nematodes. Only nematodes transfected with markers survive and proliferate<cite>Giordano-Santini2011</cite>.]] | [[Image:Antibiotic Resistance Markers.jpg|thumb|right|Example application of selectable genetic markers in nematodes. Only nematodes transfected with markers survive and proliferate<cite>Giordano-Santini2011</cite>.]] | ||
Selectable genetic markers are | Selectable genetic markers are exogenous genes that are introduced into a cell, conferring a previously absent resistance. These markers are primarily used to "mark" the successful transformation of DNA into a plasmid. Oftentimes, selectable markers are accompanied by other exogenous genes that is the primary gene of interest; the marker simply serves to distinguish between successful transformations, and unaltered cells. It is not atypical to witness transformation efficiencies as low as .05%, making it difficult to pick correct cellular colonies without additional techniques. | ||
This is where the selectable genetic markers prove their usefulness. For instance, selectable genetic markers can be used to confer ampicillin resistance to E. coli. These newly resistant E. coli can then be grown on culture plates with ampicillin, allowing only E.coli with successfully transformed DNA to proliferate. | This is where the selectable genetic markers prove their usefulness. For instance, selectable genetic markers can be used to confer ampicillin resistance to E. coli. These newly resistant E. coli can then be grown on culture plates with ampicillin, allowing only E.coli with successfully transformed DNA to proliferate. | ||
