Transgenic animals and prion diseases

Authors: O'Neil BD
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 43, Issue 2, pp 88, Apr 1995
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock
Subject Terms: Genetics, Nervous system/neurology, Spongiform encephalopathies, Disease/defect
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Peter Wills`s letter on transgenic animals and prion diseases. Dr Wills has written an interesting letter, but the reader must note that only extreme cases are being argued. No biotech process has yet sought to produce a biological molecule which is non-native to the transgene, and to suggest, for example, that transgenic sheep producing human growth hormone will produce an aberrant protein of pathological potential is stretching a point. In recent years, genetic engineering has made great contributions to human and veterinary medicine; for example, by providing markers to identify defective genes that cause disease, and by the expression of foreign genes in bacteria, yeast and plants to produce specific immunogens for safer vaccines, and antibodies for use in diagnosis and therapy. The technology now permits the introduction and expression of foreign genes in animals, and this has many possible uses in research, agriculture and medicine…

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