Vol. 9, Special Issue 2, Part D (2025)

The term "transgenic animal" refers to an animal whose genome has been intentionally altered, as opposed to resulting from a spontaneous mutation. Transgenic animal technologies are among the rapidly advancing techniques in biotechnology. These technologies are used to insert exogenous genes into an animal's genome through genetic engineering methods, enabling the genes to be inherited and expressed by the animal's offspring. Several methods are available for creating transgenic animals, including microinjection, somatic cell nuclear transfer, retrovirus-mediated gene transfer, sperm-mediated gene transfer, testis-mediated gene transfer, and embryonic stem cell-mediated techniques. Transgenic technology allows for the transfer or enhancement of beneficial nutritional traits. For instance, increasing the omega-3 fatty acid content in fish could potentially lower the risk of coronary heart disease. Transgenic pigs have been created with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, and the alpha-lactalbumin gene has been inserted into cows to boost the human protein content in their milk (2.4g/liter). A transgenic animal is one that carries foreign DNA deliberately incorporated into its genome for specific scientific objectives. These animals can be engineered to improve human welfare across sectors like agriculture, industry, and medicine. While research on transgenic animals offers numerous benefits and holds promise for advancements in various scientific fields, the primary aim of this technology is to enhance traits such as milk production, wool quality, weight, disease resistance, feed efficiency, and reproductive performance. Transchromosomal animals may also be used for producing human therapeutic polyclonal antibodies. The use of transgenic animals presents potential solutions in drug research, xenotransplantation, disease resistance, and tissue repair. This review highlights different transgenesis methods and their diverse applications. Transgenic animals represent a key technology for the future, offering significant benefits to society.Top of FormBottom of Form