Biomedical Technology 1 Transgenic Animals Biomedical Technology 1

Transgenic Animals Are species that carry one or more genes from another species Are important tools for research Improving since the 1970s

Transgenic Animals Species carry one or more genes from another species Important tools for research

Transgenic Mice

Early Beginnings Biotechnology--collection of scientific techniques that use living cells and molecules to make products and solve problems

Early Beginnings used in selective breeding of livestock, controlled plant pollination, and microorganisms to bake bread, brew beer, and make cheese first transgenic organisms were bacteria

Transgenic Animals Transgenic organisms--organisms that contain another species genes within their chromosomes (includes bacteria, plants, microorganisms)

Transgenic Animals

mice sheep goats cows chickens pigs rabbits fish Transgenic Animals mice sheep goats cows chickens pigs rabbits fish

Transgenic Animals-Benefits Animal Models Pharmaceutical production Pharming--using transgenic animals to produce substances used in medicine Organ donors Livestock improvement

Transgenic Animals mice-they reproduce quickly small- easily housed genetic makeup easily understood lifespan 2-3 years allowing researcher to follow disease process from infancy to old age over a short period of time

Transgenic Animals Xenograph--organ from another species-used for organ transplant A xenograph from a pig can be transplanted in a human to replace a major blood vessel biggest challenge to using a pig organ in a human is the risk for rejection

Transgenic Animals Pigs carry few viruses or other infectious agents that can be transferred to the organ recipient as compared to nonhuman primates who harbor viruses such as Ebola They reproduce quickly and have large litters less social opposition to using pigs than nonhuman primates Researchers are working on techniques to produce pigs whose organs look more “human” to our immune system

Livestock Improvement Agricultural researchers realize transgenic technology can produce larger, leaner, more disease resistant livestock Very expensive to do this Concern about safety of meat or dairy from transgenic animals

Making a transgenic animal The transgene which contains the DNA the scientist wants to transfer is constructed The transgene is introduced into a single-cell embryo The embryo is transferred to a surrogate mother of the same strain

Making of a transgenic animal

Making a transgenic animal success rate of introducing transgenes into embryos is low success rate decreases in mammals

Care of Transgenic Animals animals do not require any special care some are susceptible to disease

US Patent and Trademark Offices issues patents for transgenic animals Government’s role US Patent and Trademark Offices issues patents for transgenic animals The only government policy is in the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules

Transgenic Animals-Glo Fish

Transgenic Animals Opposed to Transgenics In favor of Transgenics believe the animals threaten our environment, health, and safety powerful way to study numerous diseases most companies do not want to purchase genetically modified produce vital substances needed may soon be available animal welfare groups feel gene manipulation will lead to increased animal suffering organs for transplants feel scientists are “playing God” and will move to human cloning used to treat 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 the techniques used possible effects of foreign DNA remains a concern transgenic animal models is an established part of biomedical research

Videos http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/the-wonderful-world-of-transgenic-a-09-07-02/ http://videos.howstuffworks.com/tlc/28829-understanding-the-power-of-genes-video.htm http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/stem-cell-poll.html

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