Trangenic animals & their benefits

TRANSGENIC ANIMALS AND THEIR MEDICAL BENEFITS
M.Almeida

Abstract
Genetic modification of animals is a process designed to favor certain characteristics, such as size, growth, specific characteristics of milk (among others), making possible for humans to acquire biotechnological benefits.
This work involves genetic engineering methods, making possible a consequent evaluation of the results and benefits to society.
According to the results, it can be stated that this is a cost-effective method that helps solving problems such as the availability of organs for transplantation, pharmaceutical production and acquisition of insulin (hormones or proteins) through the milk. Nevertheless, it created a big controversy regarding biosafety issues, because there are risks of transmission of pathogens, also associating to bioethical problems.
Keywords: genetic engineering; microinjection; organism; living beings; transplantation; zygote; embryo; transgene; gene transference.

Introduction

Results

The ability to manipulate the genetic material of living beings, and transfer it from one species to another with economic and medicinal purposes, is the pillar of modern biotechnology industry.
A transgenic animal is a genetically modified organism. This type of organisms (GMOs or transgenics), is characterized by having a fraction of the DNA of another organism, integrated into its own DNA. In other words, the GMO has a new piece of DNA, which distinguishes it from the original. The new part of the DNA usually contains one or more genes that have been modified to be able to express themselves in the new body. As a result, the transgenic animal presents a new function or malfunction, according to men’s desires (or needs).

With these methods scientists can produce transgenic animals that possess several benefits for the human being, for example:
• Goats that give milk with a protein of the cobweb (which is used to create bullet-proof coats or making