Packaging in vitro

Cosmid A plasmid into which the DNA sequences from bacteriophage lambda that are necessary for the packaging of DNA (cos sites) have been inserted this permits the plasmid DNA to be packaged in vitro. 

Cosmid. A DNA molecule with cos ends from A bacteriophage that can be packaged in vitro into a virus for infection purposes. 

Collins, J. Hohn, B. (1978). Cosmids a type of plasmid gene-cloning vector that is packageable in vitro in bacteriophage X heads. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75,4242-4246. 

Collins, J., and Hohn, B. (1978). Cosmids A Type of Plasmid Gene-Cloning Vector That Is Packageable in Vitro in Bacteriophage A Heads. Proc Natl Acad Sci 75 4242. 

Phage vectors may be introduced into a bacterial cell by two processes transfection and packaging in vitro. The process of transfection is similar to transformation but the term is employed to signify the involvement of phage DNA. Transfection produces even poorer yields than plasmid transformation. The technique of packaging in vitro involves the preparation of two cultures of bacteria, each of which has been infected by a different defective X... 

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