Question

4. There are two main methods for obtaining/producing yeast mutants. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each method?

Answer 1

Methods of obtaining/producing yeast mutants:
1. Forward genetics:
Phenotype to genotype
WT population of cells are treated with a mutagen (Ex: EMS) to obtain mutant cells. These mutagenic population is screened for desired phenotype and specific mutants are isolated. The location of the mutation is identified by mapping or sequencing.
Advantage: It is a completely random process that can generate any type of mutation i.e. the mutation spectrum is greater. Unknown functions for known genes can be identified.
Disadvantage: Time consuming process

2. Reverse genetics:
Genotype to Phenotype
The collection of mutant population available at the database. We search for the mutations at our locus of interest and study their phenotype.
Advantage: Rapid process as there is no need for mapping or gene identification
Disadvantage: Limited number of mutant collection is available