Question

What is the difference between a knockout animal and a transgenic animal?

Short answer

Answer: The main difference between knockout and transgenic animals lies in the genetic modifications being made and their goals. In a knockout animal, a specific gene is disrupted or removed to study its role and function, while in a transgenic animal, new genes from a different species are introduced to provide new traits or functions for various applications.

Step-by-step solution

Define Knockout Animal

A knockout animal is a genetically modified organism (GMO) in which researchers have disrupted, or "knocked out," a specific gene to remove its function. This is usually done to study the effects of the gene's absence on the organism's development, function, and health.

Define Transgenic Animal

A transgenic animal is also a genetically modified organism (GMO), but in this case, researchers have introduced one or more new genes from another species into the animal's genome. This can result in the organism gaining new traits or functions that aren't typically present in its species, which can be useful in various applications such as medical research, agriculture, or industry.

Highlight the Key Differences

The main difference between a knockout and a transgenic animal lies in the genetic modifications being made and their goals: 1. In a knockout animal, a specific gene is disrupted or removed, preventing it from functioning. This helps researchers study the role and function of that particular gene in the organism. 2. In a transgenic animal, new genes from a different species are introduced, providing the organism with new traits or functions. This can be beneficial for various applications, such as improving disease resistance in livestock or producing proteins for medical treatments. In summary, knockout animals are used to understand the effects of removing a specific gene, while transgenic animals are used to explore the effects of introducing new genes from a different species.