Transgenic Animals By: Amber, Catherine, Kayla, Lauren

What is a transgenic animal? A transgenic animal is animal whose chromosomes have been changed to carry the genes of other organisms.

How are (they) transgenic animals made? There are three main ways to produce transgenic animals: microinjection, blastocyst injection, and the help of a retrovirus.

Microinjection: This involves injecting a trangene, the gene used to create a transgenic animal, into a fertilized egg. There is little ability to determine where the transgenic is located and whether it will survive. Because of this, most eggs do not survive or do not have the transgene, but between 1% and 30% of the eggs injected can produce a live transgenic animal.

Blastocyst Injection: This involves placing the transgene into an embryonic stem cell or ES cell. ES cells are cells that are able to develop into all types of tissues. The cells are injected into blastocysts, which is an early stage of development. The injected ES cells become part of the animal and the animal becomes a mixture of transgenic and original cells.

Help of a Retrovirus: A retrovirus is a virus that can insert itself into a host’s chromosomes. This virus is inserted into the cells. The animals that contain the virus must breed to produce a transgenic animal.

Why are (they)transgenic animals being made? Transgenic animals are being made to help economic traits, be used as disease models, and help in medical research.

Economic Traits: Scientists created cattle to produce milk containing certain human proteins which may help in the treatment of emphysema. It also helps in breeding. Farmers can produce transgenic animals that have the needed traits for doing a specific job.

Disease Models: Scientists are creating animals with specific human diseases and cancers, so that they can study the affects it has on the body. They hope this will help them find a cure for the different diseases and cancers.

Medical Research: Every year people die because of lack of a replacement heart, liver, or kidney. Transgenic pigs may be able to supply these organs. Research is trying to find a way to remove a pig protein and replace it with a human protein.

Collage on Photostory Dolly

Pictures to go somewhere in the project

Credits Info from: –Transgenic Animals by Dag Marcus Eide –The Virtual Embryo –Action Bioscience Pictures from: –RNC Home –Green Florescent Protein –Belligerati –Living the Scientific Life –Geocities –Matching Making –Zoological Sciences –Gurdon Institute –Guelph –Pittsburg Development Center –Papilio –EnviroZine –2 Day Blog –University Animal Care –BBC