Artificial chromosomes generated by culturing cells with dicentric chromosomes

摘要

A method for producing artificial chromosomes by introducing one or more DNA fragments into a cell, comprising a selectable marker and DNA from a rDNA unit. The cells are grown under selective conditions to produce cells that have been incorporated the DNA fragment or fragments into their genomic DNA; and selecting a cell that comprises a satellite artificial chromosome. The artificial chromosomes preferably do not contain any genetic information, but do contain only non-protein encoding gene sequences such as rDNA sequences for use as vectors for delivery of DNA to mammalian hosts.