What Are Transgenic Animals and Plants and How Are They Used?
Transgenic Animals Now we are ready for a brief study of genetic engineering in multicellular organisms. This technology entails the introduction of a new gene into all (or most) of the cells in the body, giving rise to a transgenic animal or plant. In animals, cloned genes can be inserted into a fertile egg or a young embryo. The animal that subsequently develops will contain a gene or genes that modify some aspect of cell function. These transgenic animals are also called genetically modified organisms, and much has been written about them. We will look at several applications of transgenic animals in medicine, agriculture, and production of pharmaceutical products. Transgenic Mammals Transgenic mammals are widely used in medical research to gain insight into gene function and the relationship between specific genes and diseases. Most major universities maintain a laboratory that produces transgenic mammals, primarily mice, for specific research projects. If the role of a specific ge
