Which of the following is a step in the process of producing transgenic bacteria?

• A. Sterilizing laboratory equipment with autoclave
• B. Observing bacterial growth under a microscope
• C. Culturing bacteria on nutrient agar without any genetic modification
• D. Inserting foreign DNA into a plasmid vector

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that producing transgenic bacteria involves introducing new genetic material into bacterial cells to alter their characteristics.
2. Recognize that sterilizing laboratory equipment with an autoclave is an important preparatory step but not specific to creating transgenic bacteria.
3. Note that observing bacterial growth under a microscope is a method of analysis, not a step in genetic modification.
4. Identify that culturing bacteria on nutrient agar without genetic modification is simply growing bacteria, not producing transgenic strains.
5. Focus on the key step: inserting foreign DNA into a plasmid vector, which is essential for creating transgenic bacteria by enabling the bacteria to express new genes.