Evolutionary engineering for industrial microbiology.
Superficially, evolutionary engineering is a paradoxical field that balances competing interests. In natural settings, evolution iteratively selects and enriches subpopulations that are best adapted to a particular ecological niche using random processes such as genetic mutation. In engineering desired approaches utilize rational prospective design to address targeted problems. When considering details of evolutionary and engineering processes, more commonality can be found. Engineering relies on detailed knowledge of the problem parameters and design properties in order to predict design outcomes that would be an optimized solution. When detailed knowledge of a system is lacking, engineers often employ algorithmic search strategies to identify empirical solutions. Evolution epitomizes this iterative optimization by continuously diversifying design options from a parental design, and then selecting the progeny designs that represent satisfactory solutions. In this chapter, the technique of applying the natural principles of evolution to engineer microbes for industrial applications is discussed to highlight the challenges and principles of evolutionary engineering.
Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, 601 W. Main Street, Room 422, 843028, Richmond, VA, 23284-3028, USA.
Niti
N
Vanee
Adam B
AB
Fisher
Stephen S
SS
Fong
D019020:Directed Molecular Evolution; D056084:Genetic Fitness; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000379:methods*; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D010330:Patents as Topic; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D058615:Synthetic Biology; D049490:Systems Biology