Synthetic evolution | Nature Biotechnology

ABSTRACT The combination of modern biotechnologies such as DNA synthesis, λ red recombineering, CRISPR-based editing and next-generation high-throughput sequencing increasingly enables

precise manipulation of genes and genomes. Beyond rational design, these technologies also enable the targeted, and potentially continuous, introduction of multiple mutations. While this

might seem to be merely a return to natural selection, the ability to target evolution greatly reduces fitness burdens and focuses mutation and selection on those genes and traits that best

contribute to a desired phenotype, ultimately throwing evolution into fast forward. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via

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subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS POLYMERASE-GUIDED BASE EDITING ENABLES IN VIVO MUTAGENESIS AND RAPID PROTEIN ENGINEERING

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416–419 (2018). Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar  Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research

(FA9550-14-1-0089) and by an Arnold O. Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship held by A.J.S. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology and Department of

Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA Anna J. Simon, Simon d’Oelsnitz & Andrew D. Ellington * Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of

Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA Simon d’Oelsnitz & Andrew D. Ellington Authors * Anna J. Simon View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar *

Simon d’Oelsnitz View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Andrew D. Ellington View author publications You can also search for this author

inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Andrew D. Ellington. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS A.D.E is cofounder and advisor at GRO Biosciences, Inc, which is

using computational protein design and synthetic biology to develop protein therapeutics. A.D.E has filed intellectual property disclosures that reference Compartmentalized Partner

Replication: 6761ELL ‘Thermostable reverse transcriptase based on a thermostable DNA polymerase,’ US 15/410, 211, Japan 2018-538718 and EP 17741900.9, filed on 1/19/17; and 7151 ELL ‘A

method for screening metabolites and their receptors’ PCT/US2018/037818, filed on 6/15/18. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to

jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Simon, A.J., d’Oelsnitz, S. &

Ellington, A.D. Synthetic evolution. _Nat Biotechnol_ 37, 730–743 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-019-0157-4 Download citation * Received: 28 January 2019 * Accepted: 15 May 2019 *

Published: 17 June 2019 * Issue Date: July 2019 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-019-0157-4 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this

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