Expression of antibiotic resistance genes is used as a marker or reporter gene to identify the recombinant cells in recombinant DNA technology.
Expression of antibiotic resistance gene in bacteria occurs in presence of respective drugs for their survival. These genes are acquired by horizontal gene transfer or by mutation or naturally carried on the plasmid. Over-use or misuse of various antibiotics are posing threat in treatment of many dreadful diseases by conferring resistance capacity upon human or animal or plant pathogens or pests.
