Transgenic animals - review paper

Abstract

Developments in the biological sciences in the last years have changed mankind's ability to manipulate the genetics, cell biology and physiology of biological organisms. These techniques, collectively termed biotechnology, create the opportunity for modifying domestic animals in ways that markedly increase the efficiency of production. Among the procedures being developed for animal production systems are marker-assisted selection of specific alleles of a gene that are associated with high production, production of transgenic animals, production of large amounts of previously-rare proteins through use of genetically-engineered bacteria or other cells and identification of new biologically-active molecules as potential regulators of animals function.