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Darwinian evolution on a chip

Academic Article
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Overview

authors

  • Paegel, Brian
  • Joyce, Gerald

publication date

  • 2008

journal

  • PLoS Biology  Journal

abstract

  • Computer control of Darwinian evolution has been demonstrated by propagating a population of RNA enzymes in a microfluidic device. The RNA population was challenged to catalyze the ligation of an oligonucleotide substrate under conditions of progressively lower substrate concentrations. A microchip-based serial dilution circuit automated an exponential growth phase followed by a 10-fold dilution, which was repeated for 500 log-growth iterations. Evolution was observed in real time as the population adapted and achieved progressively faster growth rates over time. The final evolved enzyme contained a set of 11 mutations that conferred a 90-fold improvement in substrate utilization, coinciding with the applied selective pressure. This system reduces evolution to a microfluidic algorithm, allowing the experimenter to observe and manipulate adaptation.

subject areas

  • Base Sequence
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Microchip Analytical Procedures
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • RNA Ligase (ATP)
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Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC2288630

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1544-9173

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1371/journal.pbio.0060085

PubMed ID

  • 18399721
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Additional Document Info

start page

  • e85

volume

  • 6

issue

  • 4

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