Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance01:39

Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance

In 1866, Gregor Mendel published the results of his pea plant breeding experiments, providing evidence for predictable patterns in the inheritance of physical characteristics. The significance of his findings was not immediately recognized. In fact, the existence of genes was unknown at the time. Mendel referred to hereditary units as “factors.”
Polytene Chromosomes02:04

Polytene Chromosomes

Polytene chromosomes are giant interphase chromosomes with several DNA strands placed side by side. They were discovered in the year 1881 by Balbiani in salivary glands, intestine, muscles, malpighian tubules, and hypoderm of larvae Chironomus plumosus. Hence, these are also called "Salivary gland chromosomes." These are found in insects of the order Diptera and Collembola; in certain organs of mammals; and synergids, antipodes of flowering plants. Polytene chromosomes are also regularly...
Polytene Chromosomes02:04

Polytene Chromosomes

Polytene chromosomes are giant interphase chromosomes with several DNA strands placed side by side. They were discovered in the year 1881 by Balbiani in salivary glands, intestine, muscles, malpighian tubules, and hypoderm of larvae Chironomus plumosus. Hence, these are also called "Salivary gland chromosomes." These are found in insects of the order Diptera and Collembola; in certain organs of mammals; and synergids, antipodes of flowering plants. Polytene chromosomes are also regularly...
Lampbrush Chromosomes01:51

Lampbrush Chromosomes

In 1882, Flemming observed lampbrush chromosomes (LBC) in salamander eggs. Later in 1892, Rückert observed LBCs in shark egg cells and coined the term "lampbrush chromosomes" because they looked like brushes used to clean kerosene lamps.
LBCs are made up of two pairs of conjugating homologous chromatids. Each chromatid consists of alternatively positioned regions of condensed-inactive chromatin and loosely placed-active side loops, which can be contracted and extended. The loops resemble the...
Chromosome Duplication02:05

Chromosome Duplication

The process of chromosome duplication during cell division requires genome-wide disruption and re-assembly of chromatin. The chromatin structure must be accurately inherited, reassembled, and maintained in the daughter cells to ensure lineage propagation.
The basic unit of the chromatin is the nucleosome, consisting of DNA wrapped around octameric histone proteins and short stretches of linker DNA separating individual nucleosomes. The histone proteins within the nucleosome have their...
Chromosome Replication02:31

Chromosome Replication

Before a cell can divide, it must accurately replicate all of its chromosomes, including the DNA and its associated histone and non-histone proteins.  This process begins at numerous origins of replication during the S phase of the cell cycle in each of a cell’s chromosomes simultaneously. Certain nucleotides can act as origins of replication, but these sequences are not well defined - especially in complex, multi-cellular, eukaryotic species. The length of DNA that spans an origin of...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Bile acids inhibit ferroptosis sensitivity through activating farnesoid X receptor in gastric cancer cells.

World journal of gastroenterology·2024
Same author

SPOROCYTELESS modulates YUCCA expression to regulate the development of lateral organs in Arabidopsis.

The New phytologist·2008
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

2D and 3D Chromosome Painting in Malaria Mosquitoes
09:57

2D and 3D Chromosome Painting in Malaria Mosquitoes

Published on: January 6, 2014

[Advances and perspectives in artificial chromosomes].

Lin-Chuan Li1, Fang-Pu Han

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. lilinchuan@genetics.ac.cn

Yi Chuan = Hereditas
|April 13, 2011
PubMed
Summary

This article reviews the development and current status of engineered genetic vectors known as artificial chromosomes. These systems allow for the stable transport of large amounts of genetic material without merging into the host's own DNA. The authors discuss various types of these vectors, including those used in yeast, bacteria, human cells, and plants, while highlighting their diverse applications in medicine and agriculture.

Keywords:
synthetic biologygenomic vectorsgene therapytransgenesisbiotechnology

Frequently Asked Questions

More Related Videos

Deciphering High-Resolution 3D Chromatin Organization via Capture Hi-C
09:32

Deciphering High-Resolution 3D Chromatin Organization via Capture Hi-C

Published on: October 14, 2022

Associated Chromosome Trap for Identifying Long-range DNA Interactions
14:49

Associated Chromosome Trap for Identifying Long-range DNA Interactions

Published on: April 23, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

2D and 3D Chromosome Painting in Malaria Mosquitoes
09:57

2D and 3D Chromosome Painting in Malaria Mosquitoes

Published on: January 6, 2014

Deciphering High-Resolution 3D Chromatin Organization via Capture Hi-C
09:32

Deciphering High-Resolution 3D Chromatin Organization via Capture Hi-C

Published on: October 14, 2022

Associated Chromosome Trap for Identifying Long-range DNA Interactions
14:49

Associated Chromosome Trap for Identifying Long-range DNA Interactions

Published on: April 23, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Genetic engineering within Artificial chromosomes research
  • Molecular biology and genomic biotechnology

Background:

No prior work has fully synthesized the evolution of synthetic genetic vectors across diverse biological kingdoms. It was already known that traditional gene delivery methods often suffer from unpredictable genomic integration. That uncertainty drove the development of systems capable of maintaining stability without altering host DNA. These engineered constructs possess substantial capacity for carrying large genetic payloads. Prior research has shown that early iterations emerged within fungal models. This gap motivated a broader investigation into how these tools function in more complex organisms. Scientists have since expanded these platforms into bacterial, human, and botanical systems. Such progress highlights a shift toward more precise genomic manipulation techniques.

Purpose Of The Study:

The aim of this review is to summarize recent progress in the development of engineered chromosomal vector systems. Researchers sought to evaluate how these tools have evolved from simple fungal models to complex botanical applications. This work addresses the need to understand how these constructs maintain genetic stability without integrating into host DNA. The authors investigate the specific advantages of these vectors in avoiding random insertion and positional effects. By focusing on Plant Artificial Chromosomes, the study highlights a critical area of recent technological advancement. This inquiry also explores the functional distinctions between various types of vectors developed across different biological kingdoms. The team intended to clarify the current state of synthetic genomic tools in modern biotechnology. This effort provides a clear perspective on the capabilities and limitations of these systems in contemporary scientific research.

Main Methods:

Review approach involved a systematic synthesis of literature regarding engineered vector systems. The authors evaluated progress across yeast, bacterial, human, and plant biological models. This analysis focused on the structural elements required for stable maintenance of large genetic payloads. The investigators examined historical developments starting from early fungal applications to recent botanical breakthroughs. They scrutinized the functional differences between various vector types in diverse host environments. The team assessed the limitations of current synthetic prokaryotic genomes in relation to these chromosomal tools. This approach prioritized identifying commonalities in how these systems bypass host genome integration. The study synthesized data from multiple scientific reports to provide a comprehensive overview of the field.

Main Results:

Key findings from the literature demonstrate that these systems successfully provide large carrying capacity without host genome integration. The authors report that Yeast Artificial Chromosomes and Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes have been widely utilized for genome sequencing and gene isolation. In contrast, Human Artificial Chromosomes and Plant Artificial Chromosomes are primarily applied in gene therapy, protein production, and transgenesis. The review highlights the successful development of a man-made prokaryotic genome in Mycoplasma mycoides. However, the authors emphasize that this synthetic product cannot survive without a cellular environment. These results indicate that while progress is significant, all such engineered constructs remain dependent on host conditions. The literature confirms that these vectors effectively avoid random insertion and associated positional effects. This synthesis shows a clear trajectory from simple sequencing tools to complex therapeutic and agricultural applications.

Conclusions:

The authors suggest that these synthetic vectors represent a versatile platform for advanced genetic engineering applications. Synthesis and implications indicate that human and plant variants offer unique advantages for therapeutic and agricultural breakthroughs. These systems provide a stable alternative to traditional methods that rely on random genomic insertion. The review highlights that while prokaryotic synthetic genomes exist, they still require a host cellular environment to function. Researchers emphasize that the capacity to carry large genetic segments remains a primary benefit of these technologies. Future utility depends on refining the delivery and maintenance of these constructs in target organisms. The authors note that the field has moved from simple yeast models to complex multicellular applications. This evolution underscores the growing sophistication of synthetic biology tools for diverse biotechnological needs.

The researchers propose that these systems function by maintaining genetic material as independent entities. Unlike traditional vectors, they avoid random insertion into the host genome, which prevents unwanted positional effects and ensures stable inheritance of the carried DNA segments.

The authors identify Yeast Artificial Chromosomes (YACs) as the initial successful development in this field. These early tools provided the foundation for subsequent engineering of Bacterial (BAC), Human (HAC), and Plant (PAC) variants used in modern research.

The authors state that these constructs are necessary because they possess a large carrying capacity. This feature allows scientists to isolate and sequence entire genomes or deliver complex gene clusters that smaller vectors cannot accommodate.

The researchers explain that these vectors act as independent genetic-engineered systems. They utilize defined native chromosomal elements to persist within the host without merging into the existing DNA, thereby serving as stable, autonomous units for gene expression.

The authors note that while prokaryotic synthetic genomes like those of Mycoplasma mycoides have been created, they cannot survive independently. They require a specific cellular environment to function, distinguishing them from fully autonomous life forms.

The authors imply that these platforms are poised to transform gene therapy and plant transgenesis. By providing a stable, high-capacity delivery vehicle, they enable more precise protein production and genetic modification compared to previous, less stable methods.