The mutagenic chain reaction: A method for converting heterozygous to homozygous mutations

TLDR

Generating homozygous mutations is essential because loss‑of‑function phenotypes require both alleles to be altered, and MCR technology offers a broad‑range approach to achieve this. MCR autocatalytically converts a heterozygous mutation into homozygosity by using the mutated allele to induce a second mutation on the homologous chromosome. Science, this issue p.

Abstract

Generating homozygous mutations Loss-of-function mutations may only produce a mutant phenotype when both copies of the gene are mutated. Gantz and Bier developed a method they call mutagenic chain reaction (MCR) that autocatalytically produces homozygous mutations. MCR uses the initial mutated allele to cause a mutation in the allele on the opposing chromosome and thus the homozygosity of the trait. MCR technology could have broad applications in diverse organisms. Science , this issue p. 442