Adaptive Laboratory Evolution of Microorganisms: Methods and Applications in Biotechnology

The article discusses the key mechanisms, methods, and achievements of adaptive laboratory evolution. The term “adaptive evolution” is commonly understood as a selection-based process in which the fittest organisms have genetic changes (the occurrence of point mutations, transfer, duplication, insertion and deletion, acquisition and loss of individual genes) that contribute to survival in certain conditions. The factors influencing the adaptation of microorganisms are analyzed, including population size, frequency and variability of alleles, selection conditions, and interaction with other species. The main stages of adaptive evolution are described: the occurrence of mutations and their consolidation in the population. Special attention is paid to modern methods of genomics, sequencing, and bioinformatics, which make it possible to study the dynamics of evolutionary changes and identify genetic adaptations. Conclusions about the prospects of using adaptive laboratory evolution in biotechnology and fundamental research are presented.