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Reverse Genetics

Reverse genetics is a particular approach in discovering the function of a gene that usually goes in the opposite direction of what is called as forward genetic screens associated with classical genetics. To put it simply, while forward genetics has the goal of trying to find the genetic basis of a phenotype or trait, reverse genetics is aimed at finding the possible phenotypes that may be derived from a specific genetic sequence that is detailed in a DNA sequencing.

Because of modern techniques of DNA sequencing a large amount of genomic sequence data has become readily available and many genetic sequences are actually discovered long before other types of related information, such as their phenotypic role. Reverse genetics is an attempt to connect a given genetic sequence with specific effects on the organism.

As a way of finding out how a phenotype is influenced by a particular sequence, or as a way of discovering the biological function that is associated with it, researchers can engineer a change or disruption in the DNA. After the change has been affected a researcher can then look for the particular effects that the alteration has caused in the whole of the organism.

Web Resources On Reverse Genetics

Reverse genetics of negative-strand RNA viruses: Closing the circle
Reverse Genetics: Building Flu Vaccines Piece by Piece

Book Resources On Reverse Genetics

Reverse genetics of avian metapneumovirus by Govindarajan Dhanasekaran
Biology of Negative Strand RNA Viruses by Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology

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