Objective BT11.02: Analyze transgenic animals

Objective BT11.02: Analyze transgenic animals.

Early beginnings Biotechnology – collection of scientific

techniques that use living cells and molecules to make products and solve problems

Transgenic organisms = Organisms that contain another species’ genes within their chromosomes

Historically Biotechnology has been used in selective

breeding of livestock, controlled plant pollination, and microorganisms to bake bread, brew beer and make cheese

Using microorganisms to make cheese is an early historical example of biotechnology ***

Transgenic organisms This is accomplished by transferring

specific genes from one species to another

The first transgenic organisms were bacteria created in a laboratory***

Pharmaceutical companies use bacteria to produce insulin in the laboratory***

Scientists around the world use customized transgenic animals for their own research

Transgenic models are an established part of biomedical research***

Species include sheep, goats, cows, pigs, mice, rabbits, rats, chickens and fish

Benefits of transgenic animals Animal models Pharmaceutical production Organ donors Livestock improvement

Production of transgenic animals The transgene (which contains the DNA the

scientist wants to transfer) is introduced into a single-cell embryo***

The embryo is transferred to a surrogate mother of the same strain

Success rate is low (10%-30%) in mice Success rate decreases in mammals Pharming: Using transgenic animals to produce

substances***

Care of transgenic animals Most do not require special care Some develop a susceptibility to disease

Government’s role in transgenic research

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issues patents for transgenic animals

Biomedical researchers must apply for a patent from the US Patent and Trademark office when they want to create a transgenic animal***

Only government policy specifically addressing the issue is the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules

Ethical considerations People opposed to transgenic animal

research believe that transgenic animals threaten our environment, health and food safety***

Positives of transgenic models:1. Provide a new way to study diseases

2. Vital substances needed by the human body may soon be available

3. May provide a new source of organs

4. May one day be used to treat human diseases

Future of transgenic animals Current research limited to transferring a

small amount of genes at a time Much work remains to be done to fine-

tune techniques Possible effects of foreign DNA remains a

concern