01.04.2015 Views

Gene Cloning

Gene Cloning

Gene Cloning

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

402 <strong>Gene</strong> <strong>Cloning</strong><br />

Chromosome<br />

Construct A<br />

MT1<br />

TAA<br />

neo<br />

MTII<br />

TAA<br />

tk<br />

TAA<br />

neo<br />

TAA<br />

1. Stem cells isolated and<br />

transformed with construct<br />

with both MT genes mutated<br />

2. Selection of G418 R<br />

gancyclovir R cells<br />

selects for homologous<br />

recombinants<br />

3. Transformed cells<br />

confirmed by PCR<br />

then mixed with early<br />

embryos (at 32 cell<br />

stage)<br />

4. Embryo<br />

implanted<br />

into host<br />

mothers<br />

5. Mice develop<br />

to term<br />

6. Offspring bred<br />

to identify those<br />

with MT knockout<br />

in germ line<br />

7. Homozygous knockouts<br />

produced by crossing<br />

heterozygotes, and tested<br />

for Cd 2+ sensitivity by<br />

injecting cadmium salt<br />

solution<br />

8. A normally non-lethal<br />

concentration of CdSO 4<br />

is lethal to the knockout<br />

homozygotes<br />

Figure 12.18 Transgenic mice constructed to be deficient in<br />

metallothionein genes are more sensitive to cadmium poisoning.<br />

Clearly, if the cell line which is used as the nuclear donor is first genetically<br />

altered to disrupt a gene, then this gene disruption will be present in<br />

the cells of the mature organism that is produced. This has been the basis<br />

for several reports of knockout sheep and pigs, and although the technology<br />

is still very new, it is of such potential importance that we’ll consider it<br />

briefly here.<br />

One application of gene knockout technology in livestock is the possibility<br />

of producing pigs whose organs could be used for transplants into<br />

humans (this process of transplanting organs from one species into<br />

another is called xenotransplantation). There are many problems associated<br />

with such possibilities, including the fact that when such transplants

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!