A piece of genetic material (DNA) that can exist independently in a cell or can attach itself to a chromosome and be replicated with it.
Coined 1952 from Greek epi- 'upon' + soma 'body.' The term was created to describe genetic elements discovered in bacteria that behaved like optional additions to the main chromosome.
Episomes are molecular parasites that became partners—they convinced bacteria to carry them by bundling useful traits like antibiotic resistance, and now they're central to how we use genetic engineering!
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