Prospective Developments in Laboratory Animals

Abstract

The debate over the patenting of mammalian species was recently spearheaded by the ability to alter the genetic constituents of individual animals through the revolutionary technology of direct transfer of genes into the mammalian embryos immediately following fertilization. Genetic engineering of animals has resulted in phenotypic changes in these “transgenic” animals which can be used as prototypes for the improvement of agricultural livestock species, models for various human and animal diseases, and/or used as the ultimate in in vivo testing for the regulation of specific genetic elements through normal regulatory signals or environmental substances that act as mutagens or toxins. The opportunities that are envisioned have stimulated the commercial enterprises to identify a market for these valued animal systems. Securing proprietary rights for the protection of their investments may necessitate the patenting of these animals. This paper will describe how transgenic animals are produced and, through specific examples, outline some of the important areas in biology that are using transgenic laboratory animals.