Importance of transgenic animals:
a. To understand the normal physiology and development: Specifically designed transgenic animals help us to understand the mechanism of gene regulation. It is used to study how genes affect the normal functions and development of the body. For e.g. study of biological role of insulin and, role of growth factor in regulating body’s growth.
b. To test vaccine safety : Transgenic animals are used as laboratory animals to test the efficiency of newly discovered vaccines before it is used on human beings. Mice are used to test polio vaccines
c. To test chemical or toxin safety: For this, transgenic animals with foreign genes are produced so that the transgenic animals become more sensitive to toxic chemicals than the non-transgenic animals. These animals are exposed to toxic chemicals and their effects are observed.
d. To serve as a model for the study of diseases: Transgenic animals help us to study how genes contribute to the development of disease and for
the investigation of new treatments for diseases. Transgenic animals are now available to study cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s disease, etc.
e. To obtain biological products: Transgenic animals are created to produce biological compounds or molecules that are useful in various ways. It is accomplished by introducing the gene coding for a particular molecule, into the animal. For e.g. Rosie, a first transgenic cow was produced which produced milk containing human protein, alpha lactalbumin.