PRINCIPLES AND METHODS OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOTECHNOLOGY

Evolutionary biotechnology applies the principles of molecular evoluti on to biotechnology, leading to novel techniques for the creation of b iomolecules with a great variety of functions for technical and medica l purposes. Several basic principles for the application of evolutiona ry strategies can be derived from a comprehensive theory of molecular evolution. Prerequisites for evolutionary biotechnology are summarized with respect to the different classes of biomolecules and a few, sele cted applications are described in detail. Concepts for the technical implementation of evolutionary strategies are presented which allow au tomatized, high throughput processes. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier S cience B.V.