| abstract |
A quick, simple, and efficient in vitro method for generating a random chimeric or mutated gene or genes in a circular polynucleotide molecule. The method is based on hybridization of random DNA fragments to a closed, circular DNA template, elongation of the fragments by a DNA polymerase, and ligation of the fragments to each other by a DNA ligase resulting in a recombined, closed circular DNA molecule which functions as a new template in a next cycle of chimerization. The degree of recombination can be controlled by the number of cycle repetitions, the amount of different templates and fragments, and the ratio of the latter. This procedure is referred to as polymerase chain chimerization (PCC). The PCC method is useful for generating new, improved bio-molecules. |