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Glite Dictionary
cosmid

cosmid

1 9.9
A small tool used to carry large pieces of DNA into bacteria to make copies
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒzmɪd/
  • Specialized
: cosmido
  • Researchers often use cosmids as cloning vectors to transfer and amplify specific genes.

Examples

  • We identified two groups of cosmids containing the 26-6 locus: those containing 26-6 PROX and those containing 26-6 DIS.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The laboratory developed several cosmids to isolate and study genetic sequences of interest.

  • In genetic engineering, cosmids are valuable tools for cloning larger fragments of DNA.

Surface Forms

cosmid singular
cosmids plural

Morphology

cosmid = plasmid (opaque) = cos + plasmid

A technical blend/clipping from the specialized term 'cos' (phage cohesive end) + 'plasmid', so the formation and meaning are not guessable by a general learner.

Etymology

The word cosmid comes from the parts cos and plasmid: cos is short for the 'cohesive' or 'sticky' ends of a virus's DNA that help pieces join, and plasmid is the small circular DNA scientists use in the lab. So a cosmid is like a plasmid with 'cos' sites that let it hold and move larger pieces of DNA, which is why researchers use it to copy and carry genes.