Animal Biotechnology

Question 1

What are some alternatives to animal models?

Answer 1

Cultured Animal Cells
* Used for toxicity testing
* Not useful for studying disease

Invertebrates
* Useful for studying disease

Question 2

Which monoclonal antibodies are 0% human?

Answer 2

Murine.
Those with the -omab suffix

Question 3

Which monoclonal antibodies are 100% human?

Answer 3

Fully human.
Those with the -umab suffix

Question 4

What are Transgenic Animals?

Answer 4

Inserting specific DNA from one animal into another animal for the production of a therapeutic compound

Question 5

What is Pronuclear Microinjection, and what are its limitations?

Answer 5

• Microinjection used to inject DNA into nuclei of fertilised oocytes
• Inefficient and only a small proportion will integrate into DNA genome
• Also pattern of expression of integrated DNA is very variable

Most common technique

Question 6

What is the Retrovirus-Mediated technique, and what are its limitations?

Answer 6

• RNA virus makes cDNA that is integrated into host genome
• Size of transgene is limited by virus

Question 7

What is the Embryonic Stem Cell Method?

Answer 7

• ES cells are collected from embryo and will absorb DNA
• ES cells then injected into blastocyst

Question 8

What is Sperm-Mediated Transfer?

Answer 8

• DNA “attached” to sperm

Question 9

What are some vetebrates that have physiological similarities with humans?

Answer 9

• Primates
• Mice
• Rats
• Pigs
• Cows
• Dogs

Question 10

What is the latin name for mouse?

Answer 10

Mus musculus

Question 11

When did mouse lineage diverge from humans?

Answer 11

Approx. 75 million years ago

Question 12

Name some breeds of mice that are used in medical research mouse experiments

Answer 12

• Balb-c
• Swiss Webster
• C57BL/6J

Question 13

What is the percentage of genes shared between humans and mice?

Answer 13

90%

Question 14

How are humanised mice produced?

Answer 14

Combined genetics with engrafting of human tissue and/or blood cells

Question 15

What are FOUR diseases studied using mouse models?

Answer 15

1. Down’s Syndrome
2. Cystic Fibrosis
3. Cancer
4. Type 1 diabetes

Question 16

How many animals were used for scientific testing in Ireland in 2014?

Answer 16

225,000

Question 17

What are the three R’s for using animal models in research?

Answer 17

• Reduction
• Replacement
• Refinement

Question 18

Where are HeLa cells derived from?

Answer 18

Cancer cell lines

Question 19

Where are Caco-2 cells derived from?

Answer 19

Colon carcinoma

Question 20

How was Herman the bull genetically modified?

Answer 20

Contained a gene for human lectoferrin

Question 21

What is ATryn?

Answer 21

Antithrombin found in the milk of transgenic goats that have a copy of the human antithrombin gene

Question 22

What is AquAdvantage salmon?

Answer 22

Transgenic salmon containing growth factor so that the salmon reaches market size in 12 months rather than 3 years

Question 23

How much antithrombin can a transgenic goat produce as human blood donations?

Answer 23

Annually each can produce as much as 90,000 human blood donations

Question 24

What transgenic animal participates in sustainable agriculture?

Answer 24

Enviropig
Produces low-phosphorus manure due to salivary phytase

Question 25

What are marstitis resistant cows?

Answer 25

Genetically enhanced cows that resist intramammary S. aureus infections

Question 26

What animal is genetically engineered to produce human lysozyme in milk?

Answer 26

Pigs

Question 27

How is a Knock-Out created?

Answer 27

When a gene is deleted or replaced with different DNA

Question 28

What are Knock-Ins used for?

Answer 28

To create animals used in research
E.g. can replace mouse genes with human genes