Development of cattle with a modified genotype: Embryological techniques needed for the efficient production of transgenics

J.G.E. Thompson, A.J. Peterson and H.R. Tervit

MAFTech, Ruakura Agricultural Centre, Hamilton

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1989, 49: 65-70

The expansion of molecular biology across most biological fields has meant an increasing application of this technology to agriculture. One of the most exciting new areas to emerge has been that of transgenic animal production. Genes, from a variety of sources, can be incorporated into the early embryo and therefore effectively alter the genotype, and even the physiology of an animal.

Most of the work has been conducted using the laboratory mouse. Translation of the technology to the domestic animal has not met with great success, partly because of the genes and promoters chosen and partly because of the difficulty and expense in obtaining large numbers of suitable early embryos for gene incorporation. An efficient gene incorporation system is cow embryos ideally requires the development of a number of novel embryological techniques. They include in vitro maturation and fertilisation of bovine oocytes from abattoir- sourced ovaries, in-vitro culture to allow the development of fertilised embryos to readily transferable stages, satisfactory techniques for incorporating genes into the embryo and techniques such as embryonic cloning to exploit the transgenic cattle produced. The various techniques, their problems and successes are described in depth in this paper.

A research programme has been initiated to link embryology, dairy science and molecular biology techniques with the aim of producing transgenic cattle with modified milk composition.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; Embryological techniques; gene injection; cattle; transgenic cattle

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Last Updated 18-03-1997