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Updated: Jan 15, 2026

A Two-Step Strategy that Combines Epigenetic Modification and Biomechanical Cues to Generate Mammalian Pluripotent Cells
Published on: August 29, 2020
Synthetic rewriting technologies in mammalian cells
Yuqi Wang1,2,3, Yali Cui1,2,3, Guang-Rong Zhao1,2,3
1State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
Abstract:
Synthetic rewriting technologies, encompassing large-scale DNA assembly, transfer, maintenance, and rearrangement, enabled de novo synthesis or large-scale modifications of genomes. While significant progress has been made in model organisms of viruses, bacteria, and unicellular eukaryotes, their development in mammalian cells faces unique challenges. This review summarizes key breakthroughs in synthetic rewriting technologies, including megabase (Mb)-scale assembly of human DNA, yeast-mediated transfer methods, bottom-up human artificial chromosomes (HACs), and genome-scale rearrangement, along with emerging applications in constructing models and decoding genomes for mammals. These tools will expand functional engineering in mammals and deepen mechanistic insights into complex biological systems.
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