Figure 1.

Strain improvement approaches by forward and reverse genetics strategies (A). Comparison of several aspects of three methods of strain improvement: random mutagenesis, adaptive laboratory evolution and genetic engineering (B). Time—time required to perform the experiments and obtain results; Costs—general costs of using these methods; Know-how—level of knowledge required to implement the technology; Recovery—ease of selection and isolation of strains with the desired features; Biosafety—potential biosafety concerns for consumers and environment over the strains obtained; Genotypes—ability to attain the desired genotypes and phenotypes.