Yeast Artificial Chromosomes and Industrial development of Yeast Strains

Yeast artificial chromosomes (YAC) are a product of the 80's and 90's. They are artificially generated genes and DNA sequences they were eventually replaced by more precise plasmids and similar vectors.

These are essentially a plasmid that is linear. The ends have telomeres to keep it stable and prevent enzymes from degrading it. It has a centromere to enable replication of the gene sequence. The YAC is made to be inserted into a replicating environment whether that is bacteria ,( a BAC), a cloning machine, ( like a PCR machine), or a special yeast strain.

These are important for several reasons. The first is the application in genomic research. The YAC was used as part of the walk back identification of genomes. An older, slower technique of gene testing.

Unlike conventional DNA prime rtechnologies that only work with sequences between 25 and 300 BP this work int he range of kB. It has other benefits as well.

Unfortunately the DNA sequences used are like viral RNA.

It has use going into the future with the development of new yeast strains by industry. Want a yeast type that produces more ethanol or quicker? What about ethanol tolerance? How about more sugars that are usable? Some can be done with plasmids, viruses and more but others can be delivered and effectively make an entirely new yeast strain using YAC.

A strain to your specifications if things continue the way they are now.

Relevant links:

Synthetic yeast otherwise known as Yeast 2.0
http://syntheticyeast.org/

Videos:
An Introduction to Yeast
https://youtu.be/Dm5TG5IoHQE

GMO Yeast
https://youtu.be/oYYkq0BeMwI

Yeast cell division and replication
https://youtu.be/50qtuLWRT2Q