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ABSTRACT The aim of this study is develop and test an inexpensive molecular tool kit to be used for diagnostic PCR for diseases such as Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and Cystic fibrosis(CF). By developing and optimizing recombinant Taq polymerase and making a DNA size ladder from plasmids pPSU1 and pPSU2 the financial cost for the tool kit would be reduced significantly compared to the commercial components. With an inhouse method both the recombinant Taq polymerase and the pPSU1 and pPSU2 plasmids were purified from the E.coil strain DH5-α. Thereafter to analyse the components of the tool kit both conventional PCR and Real-time PCR to make sure that the tool kit would work for both types of PCRs.     The homemade Taq polymerase proved to be able to sustain in room temperature for at least 24 h and the polymerase also showed that it works with different primers such as LHON, CF and Beta-globin in both endpoint and probe base real-time PCR. The homemade size marker produced a reliable in agarose gel electrophoresis but requires optimization for continued usage for smaller PCR products.     In conclusion the homemade Taq polymerase will be used in future PCR analysis in the laboratory and the recombinant production process as well. Meanwhile the homemade size marker did not work sufficiency enough to be continuously used with gel electrophoresis in the laboratory without being further modified.

Evolución dirigida de proteínas: La evolución dirigida es una técnica que nos permite explorar funciones enzimáticas que no son requeridas en el ambiente natural. Esta técnica, simula procesos genéticos naturales y de selección. Esta estrategia se utiliza cuando un diseño racional es muy complicado. Consiste en una repetición de ciclos de diversificación y selección que llevan a la acumulación de mutaciones benéficas. Aquí se presenta dos ejemplos de evolución dirigida con los cuales se ha trabajado directamente: la ADN polimerasa del organismo  Thermus aquaticus usada comúnmente en PCR, y la proteína LacI que regula la expresión de genes usados para el metabolismo de lactosa en E. Coli. / Directed evolution allows us to explore protein functionalities not required in the natural environment. It mimics natural genetic processes and selective pressures. This approach is used when the molecular basis is not completely understood and rational design is a difficult task. This approach consists of serial cycles of consecutive diversification and selection which eventually lead to the accumulation of beneficial mutations. Here are presented two cases where directed evolution is used to modify two different proteins: Taq polymerase, enzyme used for DNA extension in PCR, and the LacI repressor protein which regulates gene expression on E.coli.