Episome | The term introduced by Jacob and Wollman (1958b) for a particle which may at some time exist attached to and apparently integrated with the hereditary material of a cell, and which may at other times occur free from such attachment. When attached, episomes replicate along with the hereditary material, but when free they usually replicate independently of it and more rapidly. Examples of episomes are many bacterial viruses and the male sex factor in Escherichia coli. (Gk. epi, upon; soma, body.) |