Artificial chromosomes, uses thereof and methods for preparing artificial chromosomes

Abstract

Methods for amplification of nucleic acids in cells are provided. Also provided are cells that contain the the nucleic acids.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for amplifying nucleic acid, comprising: 
 introducing a DNA fragment into a cell, wherein the DNA fragment comprises a selectable marker;    growing the cell under selective conditions to produce cells that have incorporated the DNA fragment or a portion thereof that comprises the selectable marker into a chromosome; and    identifying from among the resulting cells those that include a chromosome or fragment thereof with a portion that has undergone amplification.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the DNA fragment comprises rDNA.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell is an animal cell.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell is a plant cell.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the animal is a mammal.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the cell is a plant cell.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plant is tobacco, rice, maize, rye, soybean,  Brassica napus , cotton, lettuce, potato, tomato or arabidopsis.  
     
     
         8 . An isolated cell identified by the method of claim  1 .