Changes in an organism's genome that once took years to make in a lab can now be done in a fraction of the time, thanks to a new method of genome engineering.
"This technique allows us to do some amount of rapid evolution" [New Scientist],
says lead researcher Harris Wang. In the experiment, the scientists used a technique called Multiplex Automated Genome Engineering, or MAGE, to program E. coli bacteria to produce five times as much of an antioxidant called lycopene than normal. In addition,
using the process, which grafts pieces of synthetic DNA into the genomes of dividing cells, researchers generated 15 billion different genomic patterns in just three days. The process would normally take years, and could eventually be used to produce industrial chemicals, drugs, fuel and anything else that comes out of bacteria [Wired.com]. The process is significantly faster than previous techniques, in which scientists had to ...
