TRANSGENIC ANIMALS

By: Pankaj Singh M.Pharm Q.A.

Contents:
Definition Advantages Disadvantages Methods used to produce transgenic animals Examples of Transgenic animals Conclusion

Definition:
A

Transgenic animal is one that carries a foreign gene that has been deliberately inserted into its genome. The foreign gene is constructed using recombinant DNA methodology

Advantages:
Increased

growth rate. Improved disease resistance. Improved food conversion rates. Increased muscle mass. Improved nutritional quality. Improved wool quality.

Disadvantages:

Inserted gene has multiple functions. Breeding problems. Sometimes leads to mutagenesis and functional disorders. Low survival rate of transgenic animals.

Methods to produce Transgenic animals:

The
The

Embryonic Stem Cell Method.

Pronucleus Method.

Retro

virus mediated gene transfer.

The Embryonic Stem Cell Method:

Embryonic stem cells Formation of gametocytes Injection into blastocysts Injection into foster mother Formation of new individual.

The Pronucleus Method:

Formation of DNA as in the first method. Fusion of male pronucleus with desired DNA. Formation of diploid zygote. Mitotic division Formation of two-cell embryo. Transferring to foster mother. Formation of new individual.

The image is an comparision between a transgenic mouse and a normal mouse. The giant mouse developed from a fertilized egg transformed with a recombinant DNA molecule containing the Human growth Hormone.

Retro Virus Mediated Gene Transfer:

Retroviruses used as vectors to transfer genetic material into the host cell, resulting in a chimera, an organism consisting of tissues or parts of diverse genetic constitution

Examples for genetically modified animals:

Mice Goat Sheep Chicken Cow Horse Dogs Fish

Cats Spiders Guinea pigs Rabbits Rats

Transgenic Cow:
Transgenic

cows carrying extra copies of two types of casein genes produce 13% more milk protein. Currently the milk from these animals is under FDA review.

Enviropig:
Advantages:

Organ transplant harvesting Study of human membrane co-factor protein

Disadvantages:
Breeding problem. Mutation will occur. Discharges phytase which is pollutant to environment.

Transgenic fish:
Tilapia

Salmon/trout
Catfish Can

grow up to 6 times faster than wildtype fish

Most

have extra copies of growth hormone (GH) gene

Transgenic sheep:
Tracy

is the first transgenic animal to produce a recombinant protein in her milk.

Uses of transgenic sheep:

It is used as a model for studying: Immunology Human blood clotting factor viii Transplantation Haematology Biological product manufacturing Recombinant DNA Drug production in milk

Disadvantages:
Difficult procedure Failed in vitro fertilization Expensive

Transgenic Mice

Knock-out technology allows for the specific loss of a gene in mice

Advantages:

Gene mutation Alzheimer's disease Hypertension Atherosclerosis Cardiac hypertrophy Human leukocyte antigen Human gastric carcinoma Making poliovirus vaccine Different type of cancer HIV studies Ocular inflammation Hepatitis B virus Spinal muscular atrophy (knock-out)

Disadvantages:

Expensive Gene can only be added not deleted Embryos are not easily accessible for manipulation.

Transgenic Monkey:
Its so similar to human hence it used in clinical trail used for studying : 1. HIV 2. Huntingtons disease Disadvantages: Expensive Difficult Breeding problem

Transgenic Rabbit:

Alba, the EGFP (enhanced GFP) bunny. Created in 2000 as a transgenic artwork.

Advantages:
Hemorrhagic

disease Gene mutation Cell metabolisms Eye disease Heart problems Atherosclerosis Retinal degeneration

Conclusion:
Transgenic animals are now-a-days used for screening of many drugs. Using of transgenic animals reduce number of experimental animals during testing.