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

Transformation01:26

Transformation

1.4K
Microbial communities are dynamic environments where cell lysis releases free DNA into the surroundings. Other cells can take up this extracellular DNA through a process known as transformation.When a cell incorporates this foreign DNA into its genome, resulting in genetic modification, the process is known as transformation. Cells capable of this process are termed competent. Competence can be natural, as observed in certain bacteria and archaea, or artificially induced in the...
1.4K
Bioreactor Controls-III01:22

Bioreactor Controls-III

55
Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...
55

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Unilateral ends-out gene targeting increases mistargeting through supporting extensive single-strand assimilation.

Yeast (Chichester, England)·2023
Same author

Visualizing genomic data: The mixing perspective.

Bio Systems·2023
Same author

Insertion orientation within the cassette affects gene-targeting success during ends-out recombination in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Current genetics·2022
Same author

Yeast competence for exogenous DNA uptake: towards understanding its genetic component.

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek·2013

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Transformation of Probiotic Yeast and Their Recovery from Gastrointestinal Immune Tissues Following Oral Gavage in Mice
12:12

Transformation of Probiotic Yeast and Their Recovery from Gastrointestinal Immune Tissues Following Oral Gavage in Mice

Published on: February 8, 2016

13.2K

Ecologically driven competence for exogenous DNA uptake in yeast.

Petar Tomev Mitrikeski1

  • 1Laboratory for Evolutionary Genetics, Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia, pmitrik@irb.hr.

Current Microbiology
|April 1, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Lower eukaryotes like yeast can naturally take up foreign DNA under specific lab conditions, challenging the belief that only prokaryotes possess this ability. This natural competence has implications for evolutionary genetics and genetic transformation technologies.

More Related Videos

In Vivo Monitoring of Transcriptional Activity During Metabolic Transition Using a Bioluminescent Reporter in Yeast
06:53

In Vivo Monitoring of Transcriptional Activity During Metabolic Transition Using a Bioluminescent Reporter in Yeast

Published on: February 21, 2025

973
Genetic Engineering of an Unconventional Yeast for Renewable Biofuel and Biochemical Production
10:10

Genetic Engineering of an Unconventional Yeast for Renewable Biofuel and Biochemical Production

Published on: September 20, 2016

15.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Transformation of Probiotic Yeast and Their Recovery from Gastrointestinal Immune Tissues Following Oral Gavage in Mice
12:12

Transformation of Probiotic Yeast and Their Recovery from Gastrointestinal Immune Tissues Following Oral Gavage in Mice

Published on: February 8, 2016

13.2K
In Vivo Monitoring of Transcriptional Activity During Metabolic Transition Using a Bioluminescent Reporter in Yeast
06:53

In Vivo Monitoring of Transcriptional Activity During Metabolic Transition Using a Bioluminescent Reporter in Yeast

Published on: February 21, 2025

973
Genetic Engineering of an Unconventional Yeast for Renewable Biofuel and Biochemical Production
10:10

Genetic Engineering of an Unconventional Yeast for Renewable Biofuel and Biochemical Production

Published on: September 20, 2016

15.4K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Eukaryotic organisms are generally considered unable to naturally uptake exogenous DNA, unlike prokaryotes.
  • Limited research suggests some lower eukaryotes, such as yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, can naturally acquire foreign DNA under specific laboratory conditions mimicking natural environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the phenomenon of natural competence for exogenous DNA uptake in lower eukaryotes.
  • To highlight the fundamental and applicable importance of natural transformation in yeast.
  • To explore laboratory conditions that induce natural competence and propose underlying mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on natural DNA uptake in lower eukaryotes.
  • Analysis of known mechanisms of exogenous DNA acquisition in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  • Synthesis of existing data to propose a unifying model for natural transformation.

Main Results:

  • Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can naturally take up exogenous DNA through mechanisms beyond simple bacterial conjugation.
  • Specific laboratory conditions can induce natural competence in yeast without artificial manipulation.
  • The phenomenon has potential applications in evolutionary genetics and genetic transformation.

Conclusions:

  • Lower eukaryotes possess natural mechanisms for exogenous DNA uptake, contrary to previous assumptions.
  • Understanding natural competence in yeast is crucial for advancing genetic transformation technologies.
  • This phenomenon warrants further scientific investigation due to its broad implications.