The Emergence of Directed Evolution
By Harrison Ngue
Applying Darwinian principles to the molecular world, researchers have learned how to develop useful new versions of enzymes and RNA molecules.
This Article From Issue
July-August 2024
Volume 112, Number 4
Page 230
Humans have selectively bred animals and plant crops for thousands of years. The domestication of the dog some 30,000 years ago is often considered the first example of people deliberately modifying a species this way, and archaeological remains trace the domestication of wheat to at least 7800 BCE.
QUICK TAKE
- Directed evolution adopts the fundamental processes of natural evolution—diversification, selection, and amplification—and applies them at the molecular level.
- To “breed” novel enzymes or RNA via directed evolution, chemists create many variants of the molecules and allow them to compete in a chemically challenging setting.
- After decades of development, directed evolution is a practical tool for creating useful new enzymes. It also offers novel ways to simulate the mechanisms of natural evolution.
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