Transgene

A transgene is a <a href="/facts/Gene/e1swwPY6">gene</a> that has been transferred naturally, or by any of a number of <a href="/facts/Genetic_engineering/vwdlDR61">genetic engineering</a> techniques, from one organism to another. The introduction of a transgene, in a process known as <a href="/facts/Transgenesis/RwfsLxFX">transgenesis</a>, has the potential to change the <a href="/facts/Phenotype/vxWXKGLj">phenotype</a> of an organism. Transgene describes a segment of <a href="/facts/DNA/nB89Iauz">DNA</a> containing a gene sequence that has been isolated from one organism and is introduced into a different organism. This non-native segment of DNA may either retain the ability to produce <a href="/facts/RNA/HxPeNfNj">RNA</a> or <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">protein</a> in the transgenic organism or alter the normal function of the transgenic organism's genetic code. In general, the DNA is incorporated into the organism's <a href="/facts/Germ_line/QI4bKK8Q">germ line</a>. For example, in <a href="/facts/Higher_vertebrates/TeLtDTrJ">higher vertebrates</a> this can be accomplished by injecting the foreign DNA into the <a href="/facts/Cell_nucleus/D7sFRa3c">nucleus</a> of a fertilized <a href="/facts/Ovum/gJyW3W3W">ovum</a>. This technique is routinely used to introduce human disease genes or other genes of interest into strains of <a href="/facts/Laboratory_mouse/jhVnpjg7">laboratory mice</a> to study the function or <a href="/facts/Pathology/U9b18LJG">pathology</a> involved with that particular gene.
The construction of a transgene requires the assembly of a few main parts. The transgene must contain a <a href="/facts/Promoter_(genetics)/YDYBzLfg">promoter</a>, which is a regulatory sequence that will determine where and when the transgene is active, an <a href="/facts/Exon/8KWJtLuN">exon</a>, a protein coding sequence (usually derived from the <a href="/facts/Complementary_DNA/P2nWeY4T">cDNA</a> for the protein of interest), and a stop sequence. These are typically combined in a bacterial <a href="/facts/Plasmid/yf59JVlA">plasmid</a> and the coding sequences are typically chosen from transgenes with previously known functions.
Transgenic or <a href="/facts/Genetically_modified_organism/6emCmpsc">genetically modified organisms</a>, be they bacteria, viruses or fungi, serve many research purposes. <a href="/facts/Transgenic_plant/vleH1Hzf">Transgenic plants</a>, insects, fish and mammals (including humans) have been bred. Transgenic plants such as corn and soybean have replaced wild strains in agriculture in some countries (e.g. the United States). Transgene escape has been documented for GMO crops since 2001 with persistence and invasiveness. Transgenetic organisms pose ethical questions and may cause <a href="/facts/Biosafety/tLqvTmWe">biosafety</a> problems.

Transgene open-in-new

Transgene