Bacterial genome

The body of genetic information in a cell is called a genome. Bacterial genome mainly consists of chromosome and plasmid. The structure of both chromosome and plasmid are comprised of DNA.

The main genetic element of bacteria is a chromosome. The chromosome of bacteria usually has circular shaped unlike eukaryotic that has a linear shape. The bacterial chromosome is composed of DNA double helix. The chromosome is several hundred times longer than the bacterial cell itself. To fit the chromosomes in the cells, it is being supercoiled.

Yellow, oval shape representing bacteria cell with visible genetic structures inside. Chromosome is presented as very long, closed, double-helix, circular structure that takes up most of the bacteria inside. Five plasmids are shown as much smaller and shorter, also close, double-helix, circular structures.

Figure 1. Bacterial genome: chromosome and plasmid