Gene targeting

Definition

Gene targeting is a method used to alter the genetic sequence of a specific gene in an organism's genome. It involves homologous recombination to introduce desired changes, such as mutations or deletions, at precise locations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Gene targeting relies on homologous recombination to replace or modify an existing gene with an engineered version.
2. This technique is often used in creating knockout mice for studying gene function and disease mechanisms.
3. Selectable markers are typically included in the targeting vector to identify cells that have successfully undergone recombination.
4. The efficiency of gene targeting can be increased using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to create double-strand breaks at target sites.
5. Gene targeting has applications in functional genomics, drug development, and therapeutic treatments for genetic disorders.

Review Questions

• What mechanism does gene targeting primarily rely on to introduce changes into the genome?
• How can the efficiency of traditional gene targeting methods be enhanced?
• In what type of model organisms is gene targeting commonly used to study gene function?

Related terms

Homologous Recombination: A process where nucleotide sequences are exchanged between similar or identical molecules of DNA.

CRISPR/Cas9: A genome editing tool that introduces double-strand breaks at specific locations within the DNA sequence to facilitate modifications.

Knockout Mouse: An engineered mouse in which one or more genes have been turned off through targeted mutation for studying gene function and related diseases.