Abstract

By analogy with yeast artificial chromosomes, a mammalian artificial chromosome (MAC) would be a molecule of defined structure comprising combinations of various cloned or synthesized chromosomal elements that had been individually manipulated, tested and optimized as part of a controlled construction process. De novo human chromosomes have been produced through cell-mediated assembly processes and these, together with minichromosomes generated by manipulating existing chromosomes, are providing the basis for developing the first MAC-based vectors for use in vertebrate cells.