细菌必需基因、最小基因组和合成细胞

摘要

Single-cell prokaryoles represent a simple and primitive cellular life form. The identification of the essential genes of bacteria and the minimal genome for the free-living cellular life could provide insights into the origin, evolution, and essence of life forms. The principles, methodology, and recent progresses in the identification of essential genes and minimal genome and the creation of synthetic cells are reviewed and particularly the strategies for creating the minimal genome and the potential applications are introduced.%单细胞原核生物是原始的细胞生命形式,确定细菌必需基因和最小基因组对理解生命的本质、细胞生命的起源和进化有非常重要的意义.文中简要介绍近年来有关细菌的必需基因、最小基因组和合成细胞的研究方法、理论和进展.还特别介绍人工建立最小细菌基因组的策略以及应用前景.