Patent ID: 7235354

Claim:
A method for establishing an association between a first gene and a selected phenotype in a cell, the method comprising the steps of: (i) selecting a first gene, wherein the first gene is not operably linked to heterologous sequences, (ii) selecting a second gene, wherein the second gene is different from the first gene and wherein the second gene is not operably linked to heterologous sequences; (iii) providing a first zinc finger protein, wherein the first zinc finger protein binds to a first target site in the first gene and modulates expression of the first gene; (iv) providing a second zinc finger protein, wherein the second zinc finger protein binds to a second target site in the second gene and modulates expression of the second gene; (v) contacting the first zinc finger protein with a first cell and culturing the first cell under conditions wherein the first zinc finger protein enters the first cell and contacts the first target site; (vi) contacting the second zinc finger protein with a second cell and culturing the second cell under conditions wherein the second zinc finger protein enters the second cell and contacts the second target site; and (vii) assaying the first and second cells for the selected phenotype, wherein a change in the selected phenotype in the first cell as compared to the second cell indicates an association between the first gene and the selected phenotype.