Examples of transgenic organisms?

Question

Examples of transgenic organisms?

Answer 1

Transgenic animals

Transgenic animals are used as experimental models to perform phenotypic tests with genes whose function is unknown or to generate animals that are susceptible to certain compounds or stresses for testing in biomedical research.[citation needed] Other applications include the production of human hormones, such as insulin.

Frequently used in genetic research are transgenic fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) as genetic models to study the effects of genetic changes on development.[19] Flies are often preferred over other animals for ease of culture, and also because the fly genome is somewhat simpler than that of vertebrates. Transgenic mice are often used to study cellular and tissue-specific responses to disease.

Enviropig

Transgenic microbes

Bacteria were the first organisms to be modified in the laboratory, due to their simple genetics.[6] These organisms are now used in a variety of tasks, and are particularly important in producing large amounts of pure human proteins for use in medicine.[7]

Genetically modified bacteria are used to produce the protein insulin, to treat diabetes.[8] Similar bacteria have been used to produce clotting factors to treat haemophilia,[9] and human growth hormone to treat various forms of dwarfism.[10][11] These recombinant proteins are much safer than the products they replaced, since the older products were purified from cadavers and could transmit diseases.[12] Indeed the human-derived proteins caused many cases of AIDS and hepatitis C in haemophilliacs and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from human growth hormone.[13][12]

In addition to bacteria being used for producing proteins, genetically modified viruses allow gene therapy.[14] Gene therapy is a relatively new idea in medicine. A virus reproduces by injecting its own genetic material into an existing cell. That cell then follows the instructions in this genetic material and produces more viruses. In medicine this process is adapted to deliver a gene that could cure disease into human cells. Although gene therapy is still relatively new, it has had some successes. It has been used to treat genetic disorders such as severe combined immunodeficiency,[15] and treatments are being developed for a range of other incurable diseases, such as cystic fibrosis,[16] sickle cell anemia,[17] and muscular dystrophy.[18]

For instance, the bacteria in your mouth which causes tooth decay is called Streptococcus mutans. This bacteria eats left over sugars in your mouth and produces acid that eats away tooth enamel and causes cavities. Scientists have recently modified Streptococcus mutans to produce ethanol.[citation needed] This transgenic bacterium, if properly colonized in a person's mouth, could possibly eliminate cavities and other tooth related issues. Transgenic microbes have also been used in recent research to kill or hinder tumors, and fight Crohn's disease[citation needed]. Genetically modified bacteria is also used in some soils to facilitate crop growth, and can also produce chemicals which are toxic to crop pests.