Copy number of genes

Waterkeyn, J.G., Cowman, A.F. and Lightowlers, M.W. (1997b) Taenia ovis copy number of genes encoding host-protective antigens determined by competitive PCR. Experimental Parasitology 86, 84-88. 

Matsui, T. Hirasawa, K. Koizumi, K., et al., Optimization of the Copy Number of Diben-zothiophene Desulfurizing Genes to Increase the Desulfurization Activity of Recombinant Rhodococcus sp. Biotechnology Letters, 2001. 23 pp. 1715-1718. 

The performance of a biotreatment system ultimately depends on optimization of the activity of microbes and the ability to control the process parameters of the treatment system [157]. In this respect, the ability to monitor gene copy numbers and gene expression is highly useful for real time optimization of the efficiency of a biotreatment system. Advanced molecular techniques as well as low cost methods (e.g., antibody detection of enzymes based on color reaction strips fluorescence i.e., GFP marked organisms with UV light detection) can also be applied to monitor the microbial community structure, persistence of the added bacteria, and their interactions with indigenous populations. 

Every person has two copies of each gene, one inherited from each parent. Most genes are the same in all people, but a small number of genes (less than 1 percent of the total) are slightly different between people. Alleles are forms of the same gene with small differences in their sequence of DNA bases. These small differences contribute to each person s unique physical features. 

Gene copy number — Tumors are known to contain variable numbers of genes relative to normal tissue. Comparison of the normal and tumor gene populations is useful in identifying tumors and their differentiated states. 

Mayer, Z., Bagnara, A., Farber, P., and Geisen, R. (2003). Quantification of the copy number of nor-1, a gene of the aflatoxin biosjmthetic pathway by real-time PCR, and its correlation to the efu of Aspergillus fluvus in foods. Int. ]. Food Microbiol. 82, 143-151. 

Several approaches are now being taken in an effort to establish the physiological function of a number of genes. One such approach is based on knockout technology, which relies on the ability to remove both copies of a gene from an experimental mouse and then examine the mouse for any anatomical, cognitive, or behavioral abnormalities that might appear. 

Alterations in the gene copy number of miRNAs are detected in a variety of human cancers (41,42,43). Zhang et al. (41) showed that miRNAs exhibited high-frequency genomic alterations in human ovarian, breast cancer, and melanoma using high-resolution array-based comparative genomic hybridization. 

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