Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) are low-copy-number synthetic cloning vectors used to clone and maintain large genomic DNA inserts in E. coli.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Statement A is correct: A BAC is an artificial plasmid vector constructed using the functional fertility plasmid (F-plasmid) of E. coli. The F-plasmid origins of replication ensure a low copy number (1-2 copies per cell), which helps stabilize large inserts.
- Statement B is correct: BACs are designed to accommodate large inserts, typically ranging from 100 to 300 kilobase pairs (kb), which is equivalent to 100,000 to 300,000 base pairs.
- Statements C and D are incorrect: Insert sizes of 1 to 5 megabases (Mb) are far beyond the packaging limit of BACs. Inserting fragments of this size would cause plasmid instability and prevent uptake during transformation.
- Thus, only statements (A) and (B) are correct.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct statements are (A) and (B) only.