Directed evolution

Directed evolution is a laboratory method that improves a biological function by generating genetic variants and repeatedly selecting or screening those that perform best.

Mutagenesis: Mutagenesis is the introduction of changes into DNA or RNA sequences. It creates the genetic diversity that selection can act on.
Protein engineering: Protein engineering designs or modifies proteins to obtain specified properties or functions. Directed evolution is a major strategy for engineering proteins.
Frances H. Arnold: Frances H. Arnold is an American chemical engineer who pioneered directed evolution of enzymes. Her laboratory demonstrated iterative enzyme evolution and established practical methods.
Enzyme engineering: Enzyme engineering modifies enzymes to improve or alter their catalytic properties. Directed evolution adapts enzymes to reactions and conditions they did not naturally encounter.
Rational protein design: Rational protein design uses structural and mechanistic knowledge to specify protein sequence changes. It chooses mutations by design rather than relying primarily on variant selection.
Library screening: Library screening tests a collection of variants to identify those with a desired property. Screening measures variant performance when individual candidates can be tested.
Polymerase chain reaction: Polymerase chain reaction is a method for amplifying selected DNA sequences. PCR can copy and diversify genes between rounds of evolution.
Willem P. C. Stemmer: Willem P. C. Stemmer was a molecular biologist known for developing DNA shuffling. DNA shuffling provided a powerful way to recombine beneficial mutations.
Antibody engineering: Antibody engineering modifies antibody sequences or structures to obtain desired binding and functional properties. Selection cycles can improve antibody affinity and specificity.
Computational protein design: Computational protein design uses algorithms to predict sequences or structures with desired properties. It searches models and calculations instead of experimentally evolving every candidate.

Linked from 11 pages