title: Directed evolution and synthetic biology applications to microbial systems.
abstract: Biotechnology applications require engineering complex multi-genic traits. The lack of knowledge on the genetic basis of complex phenotypes restricts our ability to rationally engineer them. However, complex phenotypes can be engineered at the systems level, utilizing directed evolution strategies that drive whole biological systems toward desired phenotypes without requiring prior knowledge of the genetic basis of the targeted trait. Recent developments in the synthetic biology field accelerates the directed evolution cycle, facilitating engineering of increasingly complex traits in biological systems. In this review, we summarize some of the most recent advances in directed evolution and synthetic biology that allows engineering of complex traits in microbial systems. Then, we discuss applications that can be achieved through engineering at the systems level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, United States; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, United States.
authors.forename: Marcelo C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bassalo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, United States.
authors.forename: Rongming
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, United States. Electronic address: rtg@colorado.edu.
authors.forename: Ryan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D055162:Biocatalysis; D001709:Biotechnology; D019020:Directed Molecular Evolution; D007218:Industrial Microbiology; D010641:Phenotype; D058615:Synthetic Biology; D049490:Systems Biology