The simplicity of complex MACs

The development of mammalian artificial chromosomes (MACs) would be useful for biotechnology and biomedicine, including their use in functional genomics, transgenic animals and gene therapy. By analogy to large cloning systems in microorganisms, MACs may be engineered using endogenous chromosomal elements such as the yeast-based artificial chromosomes (YACs), or exogenous extra-chromosomal components derived from viruses and other cellular parasites such as the bacterial-based artificial chromosomes (BACs) and p1 artificial chromosomes (PACs).