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Chapter: Basic Concept of Biotechnology : Animal Biotechnology

Genetic manipulation of animals (animal models in research)

A transgenic animal is an animal whose hereditary DNA has been augmented by addition of DNA from a source other than parental germplasm through recombinant DNA techniques.

Genetic manipulation of animals (animal models in research)

A transgenic animal is an animal whose hereditary DNA has been augmented by addition of DNA from a source other than parental germplasm through recombinant DNA techniques. Transfer of genes or gene constructs allows for the manipulation of individual genes rather than entire genoms. There have been dramatic advances in gene transfer technology in the last two decades since the first successful transfer was carried out in mice in 1980 (Palmiteret al., 1982; Jaenisch, 1988). The technique has now become routine in the mouse and resulting transgenic mice are able to transmit their transgenic to their offspring thereby allowing a large number of transgenic animals to be produced.

Successful production of transgenic livestock has been reported for fish, pigs, sheep, rabbits and cattle. The majority of gene transfer studies in livestock have, however, been carried out in the pig. Although transgenic cattle and sheep have been successfully produced, the procedure is still inefficient in these species (Niemanet al., 1994). Why are these animals being produced? How can man benefit from such modifications?


To know some of the common reasons:

 

For Medical Purpose:

 

Normal physiology and development:

 

Transgenic animals can be specifically designed to allow the study of how genes are regulated, and how they affect the normal functions of the body and its development, e.g., study of complex factors involved in growth such as insulin-like growth factor. By introducing genes from other species that alter the formation of this factor and studying the biological effects that result, information is obtained about the biological role of the factor in the body.

 

·     Study of disease: Many transgenic animals are designed to increaseour understanding of how genes contribute to the development of disease. These are specially made to serve as models for human diseases so that investigation of new treatments for diseases is made possible. Today transgenic models exist for many human diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s.

 

Biological products: Medicines required to treat certain humandiseases can contain biological products, but such products are often expensive to make. Transgenic animals that produce useful biological products can be created by the introduction of the portion of DNA (or genes) which codes for a particular product such as human protein (α-1-antitrypsin) used to treat emphysema. Similar attempts are being made for treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU) and cysticfibrosis. In 1997, the first transgenic cow, Rosie, produced human protein-enriched milk (2.4 grams per litre). The milk contained the human alpha-lactalbumin and was nutritionally a more balanced product for human babies than natural cow-milk.

 

·     Vaccine safety: Transgenic mice are being developed for use intesting the safety of vaccines before they are used on humans. Transgenic mice are being used to test the safety of the polio vaccine. If successful and found to be reliable, they could replace the use of monkeys to test the safety of batches of the vaccine.

 

·     Chemical safety testing: This is known as toxicity/safety testing. Theprocedure is the same as that used for testing toxicity of drugs. Transgenic animals are made that carry genes which make them more sensitive to toxic substances than non-transgenic animals. They are then exposed to the toxic substances and the effects studied. Toxicity testing in such animals will allow us to obtain results in less time.

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