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Circadian System and Diurnal Activity
Published in Anthony N. Nicholson, The Neurosciences and the Practice of Aviation Medicine, 2017
Forward and reverse genetics have been used to identify the components of the mammalian molecular clock. Forward genetics represents the classical approach for identifying gene function, and typically starts with an abnormal phenotype and attempts to isolate the gene responsible. By contrast, reverse genetics starts with a gene of interest (often due to homology) and investigates the effects of mutations or deletions. Forward genetic approaches in circadian biology were originally thought to be impossible in mammals due to the intensive nature of screening programmes. However, it was, in fact, a forward genetics approach that isolated the first clock gene (Clock) in mammals after the screening of only 25 animals (Vitaterna et al., 1994). Despite this success, the majority of the mammalian clock genes have been identified using reverse genetic approaches and understanding the molecular clock in drosophila. The success of this approach highlights the remarkable conservation of clock components between insects and mammals. Please note below: by convention, a gene is usually referred to in lower case (for example, PER) and the protein product of the gene in upper case (for example, PER).
Applications of Starch in the Bioeconomy
Published in Jean-Luc Wertz, Bénédicte Goffin, Starch in the Bioeconomy, 2020
Jean-Luc Wertz, Bénédicte Goffin
There are two broad methodologies for manipulating plants through biotechnological means: reverse genetics, which are targeted approaches, and forward genetics, which are open-end approaches (Figure 6.2). The forward genetics approach uses variation in the trait among different individuals and then seeks to identify the causal gene. The reverse genetics approach starts with a candidate gene of unknown function but based on indicative sequence motifs or domains present, it may be predicted to be involved in a particular process(es), which is then tested. Often, candidate genes identified by forward genetics are verified using reverse genetics.
Transhumanist Genetic Enhancement: Creation of a ‘New Man’ Through Technological Innovation
Published in The New Bioethics, 2021
The possibility of genome editing for altering specific phenotypic traits has to be based on knowing what genes are related to traits of interest and how they need to be altered to obtain the desired outcome. A central goal of genetics is to understand the links between genetic variations and traits and diseases by using reverse or forward genetics. Reverse genetics is the determination of the function(s) of a gene by correlating phenotypic effects with variations in DNA sequences. Forward genetics is determining the genetic basis of a phenotype.