Directed Evolution - In Vivo and in Vitro

In Vivo and in Vitro

Directed evolution can be performed in living cells (in vivo evolution) or may not involve cells at all (in vitro evolution). In vivo evolution has the advantage of selecting for properties in a cellular environment, which is useful when the evolved protein or RNA is to be used in living organisms, but in vitro evolution is often more versatile in the types of selections that can be performed. Furthermore, in vitro evolution experiments can generate larger libraries because the library DNA need not be inserted into cells, the currently limiting step.