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Gene Transfer into Sheep

Bio/Technology volume 6, pages 179–183 (1988)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 April 1988

Abstract

Gene transfer into animals has considerable potential for livestock improvement. If this potential is to be realized, the ease of generation of transgenic livestock will be of major importance. We report here the production of six transgenic sheep by microinjection of DNA into early embryos (1.2% of embryos transferred). Three different gene constructs were injected and transgenic sheep were obtained with each. The transgenic animals have all incorporated the DNA without detectable rearrangement, and where multiple copies were integrated, they are present in arrays of tandem repeats. Transmission of transferred genes to progeny of three of the sheep has been demonstrated. Five founder transgenic sheep described carry genes designed to direct the production of human clotting factor IX or human αl–antitrypsin in milk. Transgenic animals carrying such genes may ultimately provide a new source of these and other therapeutic proteins.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Richard Lathe

    Present address: Institut de Chimie Biologique, 11 Rue Humann, 67085, Strasbourg Cedex, France

  2. John O. Bishop: Department of Genetics, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JN, Scotland.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JQ, Scotland

    J. Paul Simons, Ian Wilmut, A. John Clark, Alan L. Archibald, John O. Bishop & Richard Lathe

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  1. J. Paul Simons
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  2. Ian Wilmut
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  3. A. John Clark
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  4. Alan L. Archibald
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  5. John O. Bishop
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  6. Richard Lathe
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Simons, J., Wilmut, I., Clark, A. et al. Gene Transfer into Sheep. Nat Biotechnol 6, 179–183 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0288-179

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