Transgenic mice

Definition

Transgenic mice are genetically modified mice that contain a foreign gene, or transgene, which is incorporated into their genome. These mice serve as valuable models in research, especially for studying gene function, disease mechanisms, and testing new drugs in a controlled environment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Transgenic mice are commonly used in biomedical research to model human diseases, allowing scientists to study the progression of diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
2. The transgene can be derived from any species, enabling the study of human genes in a mammalian context, which helps bridge the gap between basic research and clinical applications.
3. Creating transgenic mice involves techniques such as microinjection or electroporation to introduce the foreign DNA into fertilized eggs or embryonic stem cells.
4. These mice can be bred to produce multiple generations, ensuring that the transgene is stably inherited and expressed consistently in offspring.
5. Transgenic mice can also be engineered to express fluorescent proteins or other markers, facilitating the visualization of cellular processes and interactions in vivo.

Review Questions

• How do transgenic mice contribute to our understanding of human diseases?
  • Transgenic mice provide crucial insights into human diseases by allowing researchers to introduce specific human genes associated with these diseases into a mouse model. This helps scientists study the effects of these genes on mouse physiology and behavior, mimicking human disease mechanisms. By observing how these modifications impact the development and progression of diseases like cancer or diabetes, researchers can identify potential therapeutic targets and understand disease pathways more clearly.
• Discuss the ethical considerations surrounding the use of transgenic mice in research.
  • The use of transgenic mice raises several ethical concerns, including animal welfare issues related to genetic modifications and potential suffering. Researchers must ensure that their experiments comply with ethical guidelines and regulations, minimizing pain and distress for the animals. Additionally, there are discussions around the implications of creating genetically altered organisms, leading to debates on biodiversity and ecological impacts. Balancing scientific advancement with ethical responsibility is essential in this field.
• Evaluate how advancements in gene editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 have transformed the creation of transgenic mice and their applications in research.
  • Advancements in gene editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 have significantly streamlined the process of creating transgenic mice, making it faster, more efficient, and less expensive compared to traditional methods. This technology allows for precise modifications at specific genomic locations, enabling researchers to investigate complex genetic interactions and functions with greater accuracy. The ability to quickly generate multiple mouse models with tailored genetic alterations accelerates drug discovery processes and enhances our understanding of various biological systems, ultimately leading to more effective treatments for human diseases.

Related terms

Gene Targeting: A method used to modify specific genes within an organism's genome, often employed to create transgenic mice with precise genetic changes.

Knockout Mice: Mice that have had one or more of their genes inactivated or 'knocked out' to study the effects of gene loss on physiology and disease.

CRISPR-Cas9: A powerful tool for editing genomes, allowing researchers to easily alter DNA sequences and modify gene function, which can be used to create transgenic mice.