Unwanted evolution of designed DNA sequences limits metabolic and genome engineering
efforts. Engineered functions that are burdensome to host cells and slow their replication are …

Directed evolution is an approach that mimics natural evolution in the laboratory with the
goal of modifying existing enzymatic activities or of generating new ones. The identification …

Background Gene editing is key for elucidating gene function. Traditional methods, such as
consecutive single-crossovers, have been widely used to modify bacterial genomes …

Plasmid-based genetic systems in Escherichia coli are a staple of synthetic biology.
However, the use of plasmids imposes limitations on the size of synthetic gene circuits and …

Methods that can randomly introduce mutations in the microbial genome have been used for
classical genetic screening and, more recently, the evolutionary engineering of microbial …

Multiplex automated genome engineering (MAGE) is a powerful technology for in vivo
genome editing that uses synthetic single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) to introduce targeted …

Gene-drive systems in diploid organisms bias the inheritance of one allele over another.
CRISPR-based gene-drive expresses a guide RNA (gRNA) into the genome at the site …

Background Molecular mechanisms generating genetic variation provide the basis for
evolution and long-term survival of a population in a changing environment. In stable …

Currently available tools for multiplex bacterial genome engineering are optimized for a few
laboratory model strains, demand extensive prior modification of the host strain, and lead to …

The efficient generation of genetic diversity represents an invaluable molecular tool that can
be used to label DNA synthesis, to create unique molecular signatures, or to evolve proteins …