1-3.6 Types of Cloning Vectors:

Cloning vectors extensively used in molecular cloning experiments can be considered under following types: plasmid , phage vector and cosmid.
Different vectors have different insert size and also vary in mode of replication inside the host.
Mammalian genes are usually too large (~100 kb) and thus suffer from restrictions in complete inclusion with the conventional cloning vectors having limited insert size.
Vectors engineered more recently, known as artificial chromosomes, have overcome this problem by mimicking the properties of host cell chromosomes. They have much larger insert size than other vectors.

Vector	Insert size	Source	Application
Plasmid	≤ 15 kb	Bacteria	Subcloning and downstream manipulation, cDNA cloning and expression assays
Phage	5-20 kb	Bacteriophage λ	Genomic DNA cloning, cDNA cloning and expression library
Cosmid	35-45 kb	Plasmid containing a bacteriophage λ cos site	Genomic library construction
BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome)	75-300 kb	Plasmid ocntaining ori from E.coli F- plasmid	Analysis of large genomes
YAC (yeast artificial chromosome)	100-1000 kb (1 Mb)	Saccharomyces cerevisiae centromere, telomere and autonomously replicating sequence	Analysis of large genome, YAC transgenic mice
MAC (mammalian artificial chromosome)	100 kb to > 1 Mb	Mammalian centromere, telomere and origin of replication	Under development for use in animal biotechnology and human gene therapy

Table 1-3.6 : Different type of cloning vectors