Preface

In the vast landscape of scientific exploration, genetic engineering stands as a beacon illuminating pathways in both basic research and industrial biotechnology. At its heart lie metabolic and genomic manipulations that coax microorganisms to yield invaluable products, sparking innovations that redefine possibilities.

The saga of genetic inquiry into microorganisms hinges upon accessibility to their genomes and the arsenal of molecular tools at our disposal. Early genetic methods for genome editing in bacterial species, rooted in culture and transformation, were painstakingly laborious, often reliant on introducing resistance markers that hindered the pursuit of precise edits such as single amino acid mutations.

Yet, the tide turned with the groundbreaking discovery of CRISPR-Cas technology, unraveling the adaptive immune system of prokaryotes and unfurling vistas of targeted genetic engineering in these organisms. In this tome, we delve into the cutting edge gene editing, exploring diverse strategies employed in prokaryotic genetic manipulation.

This book embarks on a journey that traverses historical perspectives of genome editing, its application in probiotics, and its relevance in agricultural and environmental microbiology. It endeavors to consolidate and update the compendium of knowledge and research in bacterial applications across industries like food and pharmaceuticals, illuminating gene regulation for metabolic engineering through genome editing tools.

Our heartfelt gratitude extends to the esteemed contributing authors who embraced our call to enrich this compendium. Each chapter bears the mark of dedication and expertise, a testament to their profound contributions to bacteriology and molecular biology.

The Bentham Science Group's commitment to publication has facilitated the realization of this comprehensive endeavor, offering a resource intended for researchers, students, teachers, scientists, and enterprising minds intrigued by bacterial metabolic engineering.

In the vast ocean of scientific literature, this book, "Gene Editing in Bacteria," stands as a pioneering compilation, weaving together diverse applications of bacteria across the tapestry of biotechnology.

I dedicate this book to the pioneers of indigenous knowledge in molecular biology and genetic engineering. They not only laid the foundation for an ocean of knowledge but also kindled the flame that propels our relentless pursuit of understanding genome editing techniques in bacteria.