Origin of Replication in Alien DNA — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2024Do you know the likely fate of a piece of DNA, which is somehow transferred into an alien organism? Most likely, this piece of DNA would not be able to multiply itself in the progeny cells of the organism. But, when it gets integrated into the genome of the recipient, it may multiply and be inherited along with the host DNA. This is because the alien piece of DNA has become part of a chromosome, which has the ability to replicate. In a chromosome there is a specific DNA sequence called the origin of replication, which is responsible for initiating replication. Therefore, for the multiplication of any alien piece of DNA in an organism it needs to be a part of a chromosome(s) which has a specific sequence known as 'origin of replication'. Thus, an alien DNA is linked with the origin of replication, so that, this alien piece of DNA can replicate and multiply itself in the host organism. This can also be called as cloning or making multiple identical copies of any template DNA.
NTA tests whether students understand that alien/foreign DNA cannot replicate on its own after entering a cell. It must integrate into the host chromosome at the origin of replication (oriC) to be copied and inherited. The common mistake is thinking any DNA piece automatically replicates once inside a cell. Remember: replication requires the specific origin of replication sequence; without integration into the chromosome, the alien DNA gets degraded or remains as non-replicating circular DNA. This concept directly applies to recombinant DNA technology, plasmid engineering, and genetic engineering questions—core NEET topics testing your understanding of how foreign genes actually become heritable.
What is the fate of a piece of DNA carrying only gene of interest which is transferred into an alien organism? (NEET 2024)
Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 88 of 90 questions from the NEET 2026 paper were matched straight from the MedicNEET Biology question bank.
88/90MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.