Comment on Cell biologists identify new organelle present in mammalian cells made of rings of DNA

appel@whiskers.bim.boats ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

• angrystego@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

  Citing from the introduction of the original scientific paper: “Two main types of extrachromosomal DNA can be found in nearly all cell types. Endogenous extrachromosomal DNA encompasses circular DNA and linear DNA fragments excised from chromosomes. In contrast, extrachromosomal DNA of exogenous origin has been introduced into cells from the environment during viral or bacterial infections or during DNA transfection.”

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  • appel@whiskers.bim.boats ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

    Ah I see, so plasmids can be introduced by bacterial infections. I was wondering otherwise how would they end up in mammalian cells. Although it seems this structure is basically a dump for extra nuclear DNA, whether it’s self or other.

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