Transgenic Animals…Other Than Mice

For Biotechnology Course

1. Drosophila embryos are injected at the syncytium stage. What is syncytium?  What is the advantage to transgene injection at this stage in development?
2. Why are two P elements often used to create transgenic flies? Why use a partially-deleted inverted repeat?
3. Can you envision how alcohol dehydrogenase could be used as a selectable marker in fruit flies?
4. Look at the number of parasites in the various stages of Plasmodium development (Fig. 16.19). What stage of the life cycle does the defensin A strategy “attack”?  How about bee venom phospholipase?  Single-chain antibodies? What would be the practical reason for targeting therapies to these stages of the life cycle?
5. The generation of sterile female transgenic salmon includes some interesting steps. What is the purpose of these steps?
   • Fertilize with Charr Sperm and Pressure Shock
   • Fertilize with Salmon Sperm and Pressure Shock
   • Methyl Testosterone Sex Reversal
6. The book states, “Using antisense RNA and ribozymes have largely been discontinued in favor of RNA interference.” Why?  Is it an obsolete statement?  (Stay up-to-date with CRISPR Journal.)
7. Why does the book use so many words to discuss “Natural Transgenics and DNA Ingestion”?