Mutant Creation Workflow for Uniform Irradiation and Trait Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for creating mutants through recombinant DNA technology, genome editing, and radiation-induced mutations face challenges such as the need for extensive genome information, suboptimal introduction conditions, and difficulty in achieving desired trait variations due to limited applicability and uniformity of irradiation, especially with high-LET radiations.
Innovation Solution
A mutant creation apparatus and method that includes a mutation induction unit for irradiation or chemical introduction, a selection unit for desired traits, a nucleotide sequence analysis unit, and a condition analysis unit to identify optimal conditions for creating mutants with desired traits, using neutron beams and other methods to induce mutations uniformly across organisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-LET radiations (neutron beams, proton beams, heavy particle beams) are used to induce mutations, then the radiation directly acts on biomolecules to invoke ionization or excitation, but the transmission through medium or water is relatively low, making it difficult to uniformly irradiate the target organism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the radiation type from high-LET to low-LET radiation. Low-LET radiation (gamma rays, X-rays) has higher transmission capability through water and biological tissues, enabling uniform irradiation of target organisms while still inducing mutations through free radical generation and ionization of water molecules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water molecules as an intermediary medium. Low-LET radiation first ionizes water molecules to generate free radicals and reactive oxygen species, which then act as intermediaries to cause DNA damage and mutations. This indirect action through water intermediaries solves the transmission problem of high-LET radiation.
2Manufacturing precision
If recombinant DNA technology or genome editing technology is used, then a desired trait variation can be obtained in the target gene, but reams of genome information is necessary and it is required to identify a gene directly linked to a desired trait variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the essential mutation-inducing function from complex genome editing systems. Instead of requiring complete genome information and sophisticated vector introduction systems, the patent uses simple radiation or chemical mutagenesis to induce mutations, then selects for desired traits through phenotypic screening, thereby obtaining the desired mutation-inducing function without the need for extensive genome information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs random mutagenesis followed by phenotypic selection, allowing the organism's own genetic variation and natural selection mechanisms to work in service of obtaining desired traits. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external genome information and complex editing tools, as the system generates and selects mutations autonomously.
3Manufacturing precision
If vector introduction is used to modify or edit a gene, then gene modification can be achieved, but optimal conditions for the introduction are not clarified and it cannot be applied to all organisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs radiation or chemical mutagenesis as a universal method that can be applied to all organisms regardless of their genetic background or cellular characteristics. Unlike vector introduction methods that require optimized conditions for each organism type, radiation and chemical mutagens act universally on DNA structures across all life forms, thereby achieving gene modification capability with broad organism applicability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the efficient and targeted creation of mutants with desired trait variations by uniformly irradiating organisms and analyzing nucleotide sequences to identify optimal conditions, significantly reducing the time required to achieve desired genetic modifications.
Implementation Method 1
neutron beams, proton beams, and heavy particle beams as high-LET radiations directly act on biomolecules and invoke ionization or excitation
Implementation Method 2
gamma rays and x-rays as low-LET radiations generate free radicals and reactive oxygen species through ionization or excitation of water molecules
Implementation Method 3
when a nucleotide sequence in a gene (deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)) is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the outside of a cell, adjacent thymine bases (T) in the DNA generate a thymine dimer (pyrimidine dimer)
Data Source
AI summary
A mutant creation apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a mutation induction unit that irradiates an organism, or a target for creating a mutant, with a radiation or electromagnetic energy for inducing a mutation in a nucleotide sequence that causes a trait variation in the organism or introduces a chemical substance into the organism for inducing the mutation; a selection unit that selects a mutant having a desired trait from mutants of the organism obtained by the mutation induction unit; a nucleotide sequence analysis unit that analyzes a nucleotide sequence of the selected mutant; an identification unit that identifies a nucleotide sequence that provides the desired trait of the mutant in the analyzed nucleotide sequence; and a condition analysis unit that analyzes a condition under which a desired mutant of the organism is created by the mutation induction unit based on a result of identification.