Reverse genetics
The reverse genetics is a discipline in the procedure of classical genetics is reversed. There an attempt is made to make statements about its genetic potential through the induced change in characteristics of an organism ( mutagenesis ).
In reverse genetics, one does not start from a phenomenon and then search for the corresponding gene, rather a gene segment is changed at a predetermined point by means of targeted mutagenesis. Then it is examined how this affects the function of a cell or an organism. The changes are then used to determine the function of the gene. Reverse genetics and its associated techniques ( mutagenesis , gene transfer , transfection ) are indispensable tools in modern molecular genetics .
One of the most efficient methods of targeted mutagenesis of genes is to switch them off using homologous recombination , so-called gene targeting . This technique is very well established in yeast . It was first applied to plants by Ralf Reski and his colleagues on the deciduous moss Physcomitrella . Alternatively, the artificial microRNA technology was developed 10 years later .
References
- ↑ Egener et al. BMC Plant Biology 2002 2: 6 doi : 10.1186 / 1471-2229-2-6 .
- ^ Ralf Reski (1998): Physcomitrella and Arabidopsis : the David and Goliath of reverse genetics. In: Trends in Plant Science. 3, 209-210. doi : 10.1016 / S1360-1385 (98) 01257-6 PDF ( Memento of the original from January 14, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Basel Khraiwesh, Stefan Ossowski, Detlef Weigel, Ralf Reski , Wolfgang Frank (2008): Specific gene silencing by artificial microRNAs in Physcomitrella patens: An alternative to targeted gene knockouts. In: Plant Physiology. 148, 684-693. doi : 10.1104 / pp.108.128025 PDF