Term: episome
Origin: Anc Greek
επί-/epi(=as a prefix means
1. over, upon, at, towards, during
2. besides
3. cause
+σώμα/soma(=body)
Literally meaning : additional to body (chromosome)
Coined/History
by Jacob and Wollman in 1961, as a genetic factor that can persist in both the intgrated state and as an extrachromosomal replicon in host cells.
Definition
An episome is a portion of genetic material that can exist either autonomously in the cytoplasm or as part of a chromosome, especialy in bacteria. Examples of episomes include insertion sequences and transposons, viruses, and the bacterial sex plasmid F.
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