Transcript Transgenic Animals: The Benefits for our Future

TRANSGENIC ANIMALS:
THE BENEFITS FOR OUR FUTURE
Elizabeth Mack
OVERVIEW
What are transgenic animals?
 What are the uses of transgenic animals?
 What are the benefits?
 What are the opposing views?
 What can you do?

WHAT ARE TRANSGENIC ANIMALS?
[TRANSGENIC ANIMAL]: An animal in which
there has been a deliberate modification of its
genome.
 This is NOT cloning!

Reference: Federation of European Laboratory Animal Associations
THE OBJECTIVE

The goals of transgenic animal experiments have
been limited to “over-expressing” genes of
interest, modulating gene expression, “knocking
out” expression of genes, or altering the primary
structure of an endogenous gene product.
THE USES
Economic traits
 Disease models
 Agricultural
 Medical Applications
 Industrial Applications

FUN ACTIVITY
I need 5 ENTHUSIASTIC volunteers!
 Read your card
 Each card relates to one use on transgenic
animals…will all be talked about later
 And you get CANDY! (sorry, but I can’t give
winning football seasons)

ECONOMIC TRAITS

Everyone wants more money faster!
DISEASE MODELS
[DEFINITION]: Animals genetically
manipulated to exhibit disease symptoms so that
effective treatment can be studied.
 Alzheimer’s Disease
 Cancer Treatments

AGRICULTURE
Breeding
Quality
Disease
Resistance
MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Xenotransplantation
Nutritional
Supplements
Pharmaceuticals
Human Gene Therapy
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
Chemical
Safety
Testing
Production of Material
 Military
Uniforms
 Medical Microsutures
 Tennis Racket Strings
BUT HOW IS IT DONE?
DNA Microinjection
 Retrovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer
 Embryonic Stem Cell-Mediated Gene Transfer
 Sperm-Mediated Gene Transfer
 Somatic-Cell Nuclear Transfer

OPPOSING VIEWS
Using animals for the sole purpose to helping
humans is wrong
 The animals are treated unfairly
 Alternative Methods
 How will the use of transgenic animals alter
evolution?
 No known long term-effects

LEGISLATION
Animal Welfare Act
 APHIS
 IACUC
 USDA compliance

ANIMAL WELFARE ACT
Housing
 Feeding
 Cleanliness
 Ventilation
 Veterinary care

LEGISLATION
Animal Welfare Act
 APHIS
 IACUC
 USDA compliance

ALTERNATIVE METHODS
Computer Simulation
 Hormone Treatment

EVOLUTION
Religious implications
 Haven’t we already altered evolution?
 How do we know this isn’t how we are supposed
to evolve?

LONG TERM EFFECTS
Currently no human food supplements on the
market
 No long term studies have been conducted
 Have been determined safe by the NAS

WHAT CAN YOU DO?!
Get Educated!
 Contact Local Politicians

Tom Harkin
 Charles Grassley


Get Involved in Research!
SOURCES
http://www.bio.org/animals/faq.asp
 http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/margawa
ti.html
 http://www.ipn.uni-kiel.de/eibe/UNIT11EN.PDF
 http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images

ANY QUESTIONS???