TRANSGENESIS
Transgenesis is wonderfully utilized for production proteins of pharmaceutical and medical use. Infact, any protein synthesized in the human body can be made in the transgenic animals, provided that that the genes are correctly programmed.
The advantage with transgenic animals is to produce scarce human proteins in huge quantities. Thus, the animals serving as factories for production of biologically important products are referred to as animal bioreactors or sometimes pharm animals.
Frankly speaking, transgenic animals as bioreactors can be commercially exploited for the benefit of mankind.
Once developed, animal bioreactors are cost-effective for the production of large quantities of human proteins. Routine breeding and healthful living conditions are enough to maintain transgenic animals.
DOLLY- THE TRANSGENIC CLONE
The technique primarily involves nuclear transfer and the phenomenon of totipotency. Totipotency is the basic character of embryonic cells. As the embryo develops , the cells specialize to finally give the whole organism. As such, the cells of an adult lack totipotency. Totipotency was induced into the adult cells for developing Dolly.
As reported by Wilmut and Campbell, they fused 277 ovum cells, achieved 13 pregnancies, and of these only one pregnancy resulted in live birth of the offspring - Dolly.
CLONING OF PET ANIMALS
Little Nicky was the first pet cat that was cloned at a cost of $ 50,00 by an American company ( in Dec.2004). More cloned cats and dogs will be made available to interested parties (who can afford) in due course.
Some people who own pet animals are interested to continue the same pets which is possible through cloning. There is some opposition to this approach as the cloned animals are less healthy, and have shorter life span, besides the high cost factor.
The major limitation of transplantation is the shortage of organ donors. This often results in long waiting times and many unneccessary deaths of organ failure patients.
Xenotransplantation refers to the replacement of failed human organs by the functional animal organs. The major limitation of xenotransplantation is the phenomenon of hypercute organ rejection due to host immune system.
The organ rejection is mainly due to two causes
Some workers are actively conducting research to utilize organs of pigs in xenotransplantation. It is now identified that that the major reason of pig organs by primates is due to the presence of a special group of disaccharides ( Gal-α 1,3- Gal) in pigs, and not in primates.
Another concern of xenotransplantation is that the endogenous pig retroviruses could get asctivated after organ transplantation. This may lead to new genetic changes with unknowun consequences.
The use of transgenic animals in xenotransplantation is only at the laboratory experimental stages, involving animals. It is doubtful whether this will be become a reality in the near future.
There is a vigorous debate concerning the ethics of xenotransplantations and the majority of public are against it.
Some people who own pet animals are interested to continue the same pets which is possible through cloning. There is some opposition to this approach as the cloned animals are less healthy, and have shorter life span, besides the high cost factor.
TRANSGENIC ANIMALS IN XENOTRANSPLANTATION
Organ transplantation ( Kidney, liver, heart etc.) in humans have become one of the advanced surgical practices to replace the defective, non functional or severely damaged organs.
The major limitation of transplantation is the shortage of organ donors. This often results in long waiting times and many unneccessary deaths of organ failure patients.
Xenotransplantation refers to the replacement of failed human organs by the functional animal organs. The major limitation of xenotransplantation is the phenomenon of hypercute organ rejection due to host immune system.
The organ rejection is mainly due to two causes
- The antibodies raised against the foreign organ
- Activation of host's complement system
PIGS IN XENOTRANSPLANTATION !?
Another concern of xenotransplantation is that the endogenous pig retroviruses could get asctivated after organ transplantation. This may lead to new genetic changes with unknowun consequences.
The use of transgenic animals in xenotransplantation is only at the laboratory experimental stages, involving animals. It is doubtful whether this will be become a reality in the near future.
There is a vigorous debate concerning the ethics of xenotransplantations and the majority of public are against it.
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