What is a bacterial artificial chromosome?
Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) is one of the tools of tools called vectors that microbiologists use to insert genes into bacteria - usually e coli . The insertion of genes changes the properties of bacteria in the process called transformation. The scientist can change the bacteria strain using BAC, then compare the altered bacteria with the unchanged trunk to find out what role inserted genes play in cellular biology. While all vectors use scientists in a similar way, BAC is remarkable in that it is able to carry much more genetic material than competing tools.
Over the years, scientists have developed a number of different types of vectors to modify the genetic composition of bacteria. Most of them are created by modifying phages - viruses that infect only bacterial cells - or structures called plasmids. Bacterial artificial chromosome is one of a number of plasmid -based vectors. Plasmides are freely floating rings of DNA, which many contain in addition to their chromosomal DNA. Are not considered to be self -madeThroughout the life of life, but still behave like an organism in the body: they can reproduce independently of the bacteria in which they "live".
plasmides, such as bacterial artificial chromosome, are inserted into bacteria by means of a process called electroporation. Electroporation involves disruption of the cell membrane by an electric shock that creates temporary holes to use molecules to be inserted. BAC predecessors included modified plasmids with such exotic names such as Cosmid and Fosmid. These often frustrated research attempts, because they could only carry a few tens of thousands of DNA bases, enough to put only very small genes.
In 1992, the first bacterial artificial chromosome was created by Hiroaki Shizuya, a researcher at the California Institutetechnology by adjusting a plasmide called the F-Factor. F-factor plasmids are naturally used by bacteria to transmit DNA from one cell to the typeé during the period of environmental stress to increase genetic variability and probability of survival. Unlike its predecessors, BAC could carry large genes with hundreds of thousands of DNA or several genes at a time.
A number of large BAC libraries now maintain the university, private industry and government groups. In addition to the gene researched, it contains many BAC tools that make it easier to research. For example, some BAC contains genes that change bacteria blue or cause it to be a glow for easier identification. Some contain genes that make the host resistant to certain antibodies. Cultures can be cleaned by flushing the antibody and killing all bacteria except those that carry BAC.
Since bacteria are quickly reproduced, the bacterial artificial chromosome May is also used to clon a large amount of specific genetic sequence for study. This allowed better study of the genomes of organisms that slowly or not in laboratory conditionsThey grow. The ability to clone accelerated the research of the treatment of disease by enabling faster identification of effective antiviral and antibacterial drugs. It also made it possible to produce more efficient sequences used in the genetic modification of other research and industry organisms.