Transgenic Animals
Transgenic animals are animals that have had their genes deliberately altered. The most common way to create transgenic animals is to injecting DNA into a fertilised egg and then implanting the egg into the ovary of a surrogate mother.
The main purpose of transgenic animals is to use them as test subjects in biomedical research. 95% of laboratory test subjects are genetically modified rodents. The mice are genetically modified to reflect human antibodies. Scientists can test medicines on the mice to see if it can work with humans.
There has also been experimenting with transgenic farm animals in hopes of creating large amounts of proteins to combat human diseases. Currently there are only two products that are being successfully used to combat illness:
1. Human Antithrombin III. This protein is present in the milk of transgenic goats and prevents blood clots in people with Antithrombin deficiency.
2. C12 Esterase inhibitor. This protein is present in the milk of transgenic rabbits and treats hereditary Angioedema, which is a genetic disorder that expands blood vessels and swells skin.
Diagram 3 is a visual representation of the process of creating a transgenic animal. Method 1 involves injecting cells from the embryo with the desired gene and then implanting them into the uterus. Method 2 involves injecting a fertilized egg with the desired gene and then implanting it into the uterus.
In Diagram 4 there is a timeline showing the stages to creating a transgenic mouse. In the first month the embryo with the modified gene is inserted into a female host and later into the month the transgenic animal is born. In the second month the transgenic animal is identified and given time to reach sexual maturity. In the third month the transgenic animal has a fertilized embryo with the modified gene inserted into it. The fourth month is spent identifying the offspring that contains the transgene. Once again a month is spent waiting for the offspring to reach sexual maturity and then the scientists begin their analysis.
The main purpose of transgenic animals is to use them as test subjects in biomedical research. 95% of laboratory test subjects are genetically modified rodents. The mice are genetically modified to reflect human antibodies. Scientists can test medicines on the mice to see if it can work with humans.
There has also been experimenting with transgenic farm animals in hopes of creating large amounts of proteins to combat human diseases. Currently there are only two products that are being successfully used to combat illness:
1. Human Antithrombin III. This protein is present in the milk of transgenic goats and prevents blood clots in people with Antithrombin deficiency.
2. C12 Esterase inhibitor. This protein is present in the milk of transgenic rabbits and treats hereditary Angioedema, which is a genetic disorder that expands blood vessels and swells skin.
Diagram 3 is a visual representation of the process of creating a transgenic animal. Method 1 involves injecting cells from the embryo with the desired gene and then implanting them into the uterus. Method 2 involves injecting a fertilized egg with the desired gene and then implanting it into the uterus.
In Diagram 4 there is a timeline showing the stages to creating a transgenic mouse. In the first month the embryo with the modified gene is inserted into a female host and later into the month the transgenic animal is born. In the second month the transgenic animal is identified and given time to reach sexual maturity. In the third month the transgenic animal has a fertilized embryo with the modified gene inserted into it. The fourth month is spent identifying the offspring that contains the transgene. Once again a month is spent waiting for the offspring to reach sexual maturity and then the scientists begin their analysis.