(August 2004) It has been 15 years now that the Cre/lox system has been used as a way to artificially control gene expression. If your radar hasn’t picked it up yet, you’re missing out on a clever way to move pieces of DNA around in a cell. Over the years, this system has allowed researchers to create a variety of genetically modified animals and plants with the gene of their choice being externally regulated [1]. This has contributed to our understanding of how individual genes and proteins work. How it works The system begins with the cre gene, short for…

(August 2004) It has been 15 years now that the Cre/lox system has been used as a way to artificially control gene expression. If your radar hasn’t picked it up yet, you’re missing out on a clever way to move pieces of DNA around in a cell. Over the years, this system has allowed researchers to create a variety of genetically modified animals and plants with the gene of their choice being externally regulated [1]. This has contributed to our understanding of how individual genes and proteins work. How it works The system begins with the cre gene, short for…