Use of transgenic animals in biotechnology

Transgenic animals

• To express the character of foreign genes, DNA of animals is manipulated. Those animals in which DNA is manipulated to express the alien gene are called Transgenic animals.

• These animals are used to study gene expression and gene regulation.

• Transgenic animals are used in biomedical research and improvement of animal husbandry by raising the herd of cattle like pigs, fish , fowl etc. These animals are used as food.

Advantages of Transgenic Animals

• Transgenic animals are also used in the study  of human diseases like cancer cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer's disease.

• Transgenic animals are used in production of useful products. For such purposes , the gene that codes a product is inserted into the body of animals.

• For ex- human protein alpha -1- antitrypsin have been produced by transgenic animals .

• This protein is used to treat emphysema. Transgenic mice are developed for the use in testing the safety of vaccines.  

• The first transgenic animal was produced in 1982 that was a transgenic mouse. It was used to transfer human growth hormone for the mouse metallothionein.

• J.P. Simpson developed the first transgenic sheep. It carries the human antihemophilic factor gene.

• In 1991 five transgenic sheep were developed by Alan colman.These sheep have bovine, lactoglobulin gene.

• V.G. purse developed transgenic pig carried gene of growth hormone.

• In these pigs, there is a marked reduction in the subcutaneous fat.

• John Mc Peterson and Karl Ebert produced transgenic goats. These goats produced heterologous protein in their milk.

• This protein is used to dissolve  the blood clot for the treatment of  coronary thrombosis.

• In 1997,a transgenic cow called Rosie was developed. This cow produced milk rich in human milk protein.

• The milk of this cow is rich in human alpha lactalbumin and that milk was more balanced than cow milk for human babies.

• Recently transgenic cows were developed containing  bovine alpha S1 casein. That code antibacterial human iron  binding protein called lactoferrin.