title: Developments in transgenic technology: applications for medicine.
abstract: Recent advances in the efficiency of transgenic technology have important implications for medicine. The production of therapeutic proteins from animal bioreactors is well established and the first products are close to market. The genetic modification of pigs to improve their suitability as organ donors for xenotransplantation has been initiated, but many challenges remain. The use of transgenesis, in combination with the method of RNA interference to knock down gene expression, has been proposed as a method for making animals resistant to viral diseases, which could reduce the likelihood of transmission to humans. Here, the latest developments in transgenic technology and their applications relevant to medicine and human health will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Roslin Institute, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9PS, UK.
authors.forename: Cheryl V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Laurence S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Tiley
authors.forename: Helen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Sang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes; D014180:Transplantation; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger