2. What is a transgenic organism?
~ a transgenic, or genetically modified, organism
is one that has been altered through
recombinant DNA technology, which involves
either the combining of DNA from different
genomes or the insertion of foreign DNA into a
genome
GloFish
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GloFish.jpg
3. How transgenic organisms
work…
Three Main Methods…
DNA Microinjection
A foreign gene is directly injected into a fertilized egg that is put into a
female animal that acts as a surrogate mother for the egg.
Retrovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer
A retrovirus is a virus that attaches to an organism’s DNA and changes it
to include a new characteristic. Scientists expose ordinary cells to a
retrovirus when they are trying to create transgenic animals.
Embryonic Stem Cell-Mediated Gene Transfer
Stem cells are blank cells that can turn into any type of cell. Scientists
modify these cells, and then add them to an embryo, which is a fertilized
egg that develops and grows until it hatches or is born.
4. ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Agriculture
Breeding
Quickly produce animals with desired
traits
Quality
Cows that produce more milk, pigs and
cattle that have more meat, sheep that
grow more wool, etc.
Disease Resistant
Medicine
Xenotransplantation
Animals produce organs that can be
used in transplants
Nutritional Supplements
Pharmaceuticals
Human Gene Therapy
Industry
Production of useful materials
Ex] Spider Goat ~ makes silk
5. Spider Goat
The spider goat produces large amounts of silk, with this silk industries
are able to create light, tough, flexible material that can be used in such
applications as military uniforms, medical microstructures, and tennis
racket strings.
