Kanamycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic, inhibiting bacterial propagation through binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit and preventing protein synthesis.  This antibiotic is useful in selecting for E. coli bacteria which have been transformed with a plasmid containing a gene which provides resistance to it.  Such a strategy is commonly used in cloning. Kanamycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic, inhibiting bacterial propagation through binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit and preventing protein synthesis.  This antibiotic is useful in selecting for E. coli bacteria which have been transformed with a plasmid containing a gene which provides resistance to it.  Such a strategy is commonly used in cloning.