Genetic engineering refers to the intentional modification of an organism’s genome by directly altering the DNA sequence using a variety of molecular biotechnologies. In laboratory animal species, like mice and rats, these technologies have been used to dramatically improve our understanding of basic mammalian physiology. In livestock and companion animals (including cats, guinea pigs, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle and horses) genetic engineering allows researchers to enhance production traits of livestock, eliminate disease-causing genetic mutations, produce low-cost therapeutic proteins and vaccines in milk, and to create biologically relevant models of human and animal diseases. The reproductive sciences faculty in the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology develop genetic engineering strategies that incorporate the latest advances in molecular biology, genetics and assisted reproductive technologies to accomplish precision genetic modification in numerous mammalian species.
