What is gene targeting?

Concept

Gene targeting: refers to changing a specific gene in the genome through DNA homologous recombination to study the function of this gene in vivo. Gene targeting technology is an experimental method to directionally change the genetic information of living organisms. Its emergence and development are based on the achievements of embryonic stem (ES) cell technology and homologous recombination technology, and promote the further development of related technologies. Gene targeting technology will be widely used in gene function research, development of animal models of human diseases, and improvement of genetic material of economic animals.

Principle

First, obtain an ES cell line, and use homologous recombination technology to obtain target ES cells with mutations pre-designed by the researcher. Genetically modified ES cells are introduced into the recipient embryo through microinjection or embryo fusion. Genetically modified ES cells still maintain the totipotency of differentiation and can develop into germ cells of chimeric animals, allowing the modified genetic information to be inherited through the germline. The obtained mutant animals with specific modifications provide researchers with a special research system, allowing them to study the function of specific genes in living organisms. Currently, homologous recombination in ES cells has become a routine technique for genetic modification of any site on the mouse genome. There are more than a thousand types of mutant mice obtained through gene targeting (see the literature for related databases), and the number of mutant mice is increasing by hundreds every year. Through phenotypic analysis of these mutant mice, the functions of many new genes related to human diseases have been elucidated and have directly led to many breakthroughs in various fields of modern biological research.

Experimental process: see pictures

From top to bottom

Features

Gene targeting technology is a method of directionally changing the genetic information of living organisms experimental means. Through targeted modification of genetic information in living organisms, including gene inactivation, introduction of point mutations, deletion mutations, introduction of foreign gene positioning, deletion of large chromosome segments, etc., the modified genetic information is inherited in living organisms, expressing mutations. Traits can be used to study major issues in life sciences such as gene function, as well as provide relevant disease treatment, new drug screening and evaluation models, etc. The development of gene targeting technology has made it possible to modify the genetic material of specific cells, tissues or individual animals.

Application

The application of gene targeting technology in the study of gene function, the application of gene targeting technology to develop animal models of human diseases, the application of gene targeting technology to improve animal strains and the development of animal reactors, etc. .