AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The plasmid DNA is a circular, double-stranded extrachromosomal DNA, which is relatively smaller in size compared to chromosomal DNA. The presence of plasmid DNA is in prokaryotes only, whereas chromosomal DNA is present both in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Detailed explanation-2: -Genomic DNA is found in both prokaryotes as well as eukaryotes. Plasmid DNA is found only in prokaryotes like bacteria, and also in a few eukaryotes. It is a chromosomal DNA larger than the plasmid DNA. It is extrachromosomal DNA that is comparatively smaller.

Detailed explanation-3: -Plasmids are bacterial DNA molecules that are smaller than the chromosome(s). Generally, they are dispensable for bacterial growth at least under some conditions.

Detailed explanation-4: -Bacterial genomes are typically small: E. coli strain K12 has a genome size of 4.6 million bases (mb) in comparison with the ∼12 mb of the eukaryotic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and 3300 mb for humans (Fig.