Techniques of Transgenic Animal Production: A Review

Abstract

The possibility that phenotype of cells and whole animals could be manipulated in selected and intended ways by introducing foreign DNA has enchanted scientists. Recent progress in molecular biology has made it possible to transfer genes of interest into cells cultured in vitro and even in target tissues of living animals in vivo, albeit at a low rate. This enables one to manipulate phenotype of cells and whole animals in selected and intended ways. The consequence of such gene transfer attempts has been used for the production of various types of transgenic animals. Transgenic technology is the process by which controlled genetic modifications of multicellular eukaryotic species are produced. It has led to an explosion of research in developmental genetics. It attracts the interest of many investigators who were not engaged in animal research previously. Animal in which foreign DNA is integrated into the genome are called transgenic. The foreign genetic material will generally consists of a structural genes with regulatory sequences those are required for the transcription of the introduced genes. Within the mammalian species, the mouse has been extensively used to study gene regulation through the introduction of fusion genes. Fundamental information on gene expression and regulation is being generated from the transgenic mouse model. Transgenic rats, rabbits, sheep, cows, pigs, goats, chickens, birds, amphibians, reptiles and even fish have already been produced. Transgenic manipulation of livestock can facilitate precision agriculture, minimizing the use of antibiotics and pesticides, and can bring increased efficiency to the processing industry. Transgenesis offers a new paradigm in disease control and can assist in preserving genetic diversity. Outside agriculture, transgenic livestock have an important role in biopharmaceutical production. Biotechnology, including transgenic livestock, will play a key role in meeting the challenge of feeding the world population, while creating and maintaining sustainable agricultural systems. Transgenesis is not an end in itself; its only justification in agriculture is to benefit the quality of life of man, or animals, or to achieve better use of environmental resources. The main target of my review was to explore the methods of transgenic animal production and therapeutic applications of the transgenic animal as well as other possible implications of transgenesis.