Transgenic animals are the animals in wh | Class 12 Biology Chapter Biotechnology and its Application, Biotechnology and its Application NCERT Solutions

Animals that have been permanently engineered by the gene insertion are known as transgenic animals and these contains functional foreign genes that have been introduced into the genome by genetic engineering. For example: First transgenic cow name was Rosie that contains cDNA which codes for the antibacterial human iron- binding protein called lactoferrin have been produced. In this cow, human genes are transferred that are expressed in mammary tissues and then the milk contains nutritionally more balanced product, α- lactalbumin for human bodies than natural cow milk. Transgenic animals are made to serve as the models for the human diseases like cancer, cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer etc. so that preventive measures are taken. For example: Transgenic Goats, they have human gene which codes for blood clot dissolving protein, i.e. Tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) is formed, secreted in milk. And, this is used for the treatment of coronary thrombosis disease.

Another example: in Canada, the gene for spider web has been isolated from the spiders and was inserted into a goat. The goat is producing spider web and the milk too. Due to this high tensile strength, these web fibers of the spiders now used for stitching the military uniforms, tennis and badminton rackets etc.