Generation of bovine transgenics using somatic cell nuclear transfer

Abstract

The ability to produce transgenic animals through the introduction of exogenous DNA has existed for many years. However, past methods available to generate transgenic animals, such as pronuclear microinjection or the use of embryonic stem cells, have either been inefficient or not available in all animals, bovine included. More recently somatic cell nuclear transfer has provided a method to create transgenic animals that overcomes many deficiencies present in other methods. This review summarizes the benefits of using somatic cell nuclear transfer to create bovine transgenics as well as the possible opportunities this method creates for the future.

Figure 1

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer with Transgenic Cells. (A) A mature oocyte is enucleated by a glass pipet and a transgenic somatic cell (gray striped cell) is transferred under the zona pelucida of the oocyte. An electrical pulse is then given to fuse the two cell membranes transferring the transgenic donor nucleus into the oocyte. (B) Somatic cells are transfected with a transgene and appropriate selection is used to isolate a clonal population of transgenic somatic cells.