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Updated: Jun 26, 2025

Automated Robotic Liquid Handling Assembly of Modular DNA Devices
Published on: December 1, 2017
Sourcing DNA parts for synthetic biology applications in plants
Katie Vollen1, Chengsong Zhao1, Jose M Alonso1
1Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
Abstract:
Transgenic approaches are now standard in plant biology research aiming to characterize gene function or improve crops. Recent advances in DNA synthesis and assembly make constructing transgenes a routine task. What remains nontrivial is the selection of the DNA parts and optimization of the transgene design. Early career researchers and seasoned molecular biologists alike often face difficult decisions on what promoter or terminator to use, what tag to include, and where to place it. This review aims to inform about the current approaches being employed to identify and characterize DNA parts with the desired functionalities and give general advice on basic construct design. Furthermore, we hope to share the excitement about new experimental and computational tools being developed in this field.
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