Gene synthesis can be fully automated cheaply
Why is genome synthesis difficult?
Chemical synthesis is limited to 100nt at a time
Manipulation of large fragments is difficult
Vectors are limited
Synthesis of a genome must be done in small, overlapping parts
How many kbpairs can PCR be used for?
1-5
5-10
10-15
What is essential when creating small fragments to be joined together later in clones?
The fragments must overlap
The fragments MUST be 7kb long
The fragments cannot contain introns
When transplacting the synthetic genome between clones, what must not be present?
Proteins
DNA
RNA
How is the receptor organism for the synthetic genome made able to receive it?
The cell wall is treated with chemicals to make it permeable
The DNA is directly microinjected into the cell
The cell absorbs the DNA with other nutrients
Once the synthetic genome has been added to the cell, it divides as it contains two genomes
Why synthetic organisms?
To see if we can
To improve/redesign regulatory networks
To produce protective genes
Biofuels/biopharmecuticals
