Directed evolution applies repeated mutation and selection at the molecular level. Researchers create protein variants, identify those that perform better under chosen conditions, and use them as starting points for another round. The hosts compare this process with selective breeding, then explain why improved enzymes can be useful catalysts in manufacturing.
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3:58This particular photo, the one on the upper left, that's watermelon. That does not look like watermelon. >> Does not look appetizing. >> That does not No. Right. Um the one in the middle, that's corn. On the right, that's a carrot. That looks like a stick. >> That looks like a twig. >> That looks like a twig. That's not what we see in carrots. Right. Um, so all of the food that we eat today is a result of artificially selecting the ones that we prefer and then having them proliferate to the next generation. So this is not a new thing for humans to sort of take over the evolutionary reigns and steer organisms to their will. Okay? Here what we're doing is at
4:38a biomolecular level we're doing targeted directed evolution. Okay. This is the idea where you induce mutations in the DNA. So you make thousands of versions of an enzyme let's say from that DNA and then you select the ones the versions of that enzyme that do the best for the next round. So you know let's say I have a thousand different versions. I'm now going to create thousands of different enzymes out of those the top 100. I'm going to select that DNA and then now do it again. Do a bunch of mutations. create a thousand different versions again test it I do this natural selection at a genetic level now right at a molecular
5:20level and what I'm doing is through that process I can make catalysts replace toxic chemicals this is this has been
Molecular BiologyProtein EngineeringSynthetic BiologyBioengineering