Site directed mutagenesis

Site-directed mutagenesis alters DNA at one chosen site in vitro. Several approaches exist; for example, oligonucleotides containing the mutated base sequence are annealed with single-stranded target DNA, usually in plasmids, serving as primers for DNA synthesis, and the molecules are then introduced into host cells. It lets researchers probe gene function and engineer improved enzymes for food processing, accelerating strain improvement. Typically oligonucleotides containing the mutated base sequence are annealed with target DNA and used as primers for DNA synthesis.