How Scientists Make More DNA Using Bacteria

Scientists often need large amounts of plasmid DNA for experiments. To make more, researchers can introduce a plasmid into E. coli through a process called transformation. Once inside the bacteria, the plasmid is replicated as the bacteria grow, producing many copies of the same DNA.

After the bacteria have multiplied, scientists can collect and purify the plasmid DNA using a process called a maxiprep. Instead of manually copying DNA over and over, researchers let rapidly reproducing bacteria produce many copies of the plasmid for them. It's a simple example of how biotechnology can take advantage of something cells already do naturally: replicate DNA.