Transgenic Animals: The Benefits for our Future

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Transgenic Animals The Benefits for our Future

• Elizabeth Mack

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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?

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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

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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.

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The Uses

• Economic traits
• Disease models
• Agricultural
• Medical Applications
• Industrial Applications

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FUN Activity

• I need 5 ENTHUSIASTIC volunteers!
• Read your card
• Each card relates to one use on transgenic
  animalswill all be talked about later
• And you get CANDY! (sorry, but I cant give
  winning football seasons)

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Economic Traits

• Everyone wants more money faster!

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Disease Models

• DEFINITION Animals genetically manipulated to
  exhibit disease symptoms so that effective
  treatment can be studied.
• Alzheimers Disease
• Cancer Treatments

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Agriculture

• Breeding
• Quality
• Disease Resistance

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Medical Applications

• Xenotransplantation
• Nutritional Supplements
• Pharmaceuticals
• Human Gene Therapy

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Industrial Applications

• Chemical Safety Testing
• Production of Material
• Military Uniforms
• Medical Microsutures
• Tennis Racket Strings

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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

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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

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Legislation

• Animal Welfare Act
• APHIS
• IACUC
• USDA compliance

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Animal Welfare Act

• Housing
• Feeding
• Cleanliness
• Ventilation
• Veterinary care

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Legislation

• Animal Welfare Act
• APHIS
• IACUC
• USDA compliance

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Alternative Methods

• Computer Simulation
• Hormone Treatment

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Evolution

• Religious implications
• Havent we already altered evolution?
• How do we know this isnt how we are supposed to
  evolve?

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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

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What can you do?!

• Get Educated!
• Contact Local Politicians
• Tom Harkin
• Charles Grassley
• Get Involved in Research!

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Sources

• http//www.bio.org/animals/faq.asp
• http//www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/margawati.
  html
• http//www.ipn.uni-kiel.de/eibe/UNIT11EN.PDF
• http//images.search.yahoo.com/search/images

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ANY QUESTIONS???