DNA-damaging device could make mutant discovery safer and simpler
Cool microplasma jets create a stream of radicals that induce mutations
A compact device that fires jets of plasma can be used to randomly mutate the DNA of cultured organisms. The approach offers a cheap, safe and simple way to find beneficial and improved mutant strains of microbes for industry and biomedicine.
Genetic engineers commonly use the latest gene editing technologies such as Crispr to selectively modify the genetics of an organism. However, such rational methods require knowledge of what you are targeting and why. Conversely, random mutagenesis can be a useful scatter-gun approach – simply induce mutations in an organism and see what happens.