Journal
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
Volume 30, Issue 11, Pages 601-607Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE LONDON
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2012.08.002
Keywords
essential gene; synthetic biology; antimicrobial target; minimal genome
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Funding
- European Union 7th Framework Program, project NABATIVI
- DOE
- NSF
- DARPA
- NIH
- Wyss Institute
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Essential genes are absolutely required for the survival of any living entity. Investigation of essential genes is therefore expected to advance tremendously our understanding of the universal principles of life. Determination of a minimal set of essential genes needed to sustain life also plays an important role in the emerging field of synthetic biology, whose goals include creation of a stringently controlled minimal cell with predesigned phenotypic traits. In addition, due to their indispensability for survival of bacteria, genes encoding essential cellular functions have great potential in medicine as promising targets for the development of novel antimicrobials. Here, we review recent advances in the investigation of essential genes, with emphasis on the practical applications in medicine and synthetic biology.
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