Construction of a biologically active recombinant DNA plasmid containing a mouse metallothionein promoter and genomic bovine growth hormone gene

The direct transfer of recombinant DNA to embryos is conceptually a powerful method for the manipulation of the genetic potential of domestic animals, but in practice the technology has yet to fulfil its promise. In this paper, two examples are given of research utilising direct genetic manipulation, both of which are aimed at increasing aspects of productivity in sheep. The first of these involves the modification of the growth hormone status of sheep by the use of the ovine growth hormone gene, the regulation of which has been altered by the use of an ovine metallothionein promoter. While there has been a large amount of research already conducted in this area by many groups, our recent results provide one of the first demonstrations that this approach can increase the growth rates of sheep while maintaining the animals in good health. The second project involves the modification of intermediary metabolism in sheep by the introduction of the cysteine biosynthetic pathway. The results to date demonstrate that it is possible to change intermediary metabolism in animals using our approach but that there are species-specific requirements that must be satisfied in order to make the approach a practical method for improving animal productivity.

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Association Between SSCP Haplotypes at the Bovine Growth Hormone Gene and Milk Protein Percentage

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/142.3.945 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 142 (3) ◽

pp. 945-951

Author(s):

A Lagziel ◽

E Lipkin ◽

M Soller

Keyword(s):

Growth Hormone ◽

Candidate Gene ◽

Milk Protein ◽

Haplotype Analysis ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Bovine Growth Hormone ◽

Growth Hormone Gene ◽

Protein Percentage ◽

Quantitative Genetic ◽

Positive Effect

Abstract The bovine Growth Hormone gene (bGH) is an attractive candidate gene for milk production in cattle. Single-strand conformation polymorphisms at bGH were identified and used to define haplotype configurations at this gene in the Israeli Holstein dairy cattle population (Bos taurus) and in the parent animals of the International Bovine Reference Family Panel (a collection of B. taurus and B. indicus crosses). B. taurus and B. indicus haplotypes at the bGH gene differed qualitatively, confirming the previously proposed long evolutionary separation of these cattle subraces. Only a small number of bGH haplotypes were present in the Israel Holstein population. One of the haplotypes, apparently of B. indicus origin, was found to have a highly significant positive effect on milk protein percentage. This illustrates the utility of the haplotype approach for uncovering candidate gene involvement in quantitative genetic variation in agricultural populations. The strong effect of an indicine haplotype in a taurine background raises the possibility that indicine alleles at other candidate genes may comprise a genetic resource for improvement of taurine populations. It is proposed that haplotype analysis may be a useful adjunct to measures of genetic distance for evaluating rare breeds with respect to gene conservation.

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Introduction of a porcine growth hormone fusion gene into transgenic pigs promotes growth

Journal of Cell Science ◽

10.1242/jcs.90.2.295 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 90 (2) ◽

pp. 295-300

Author(s):

P.D. Vize ◽

A.E. Michalska ◽

R. Ashman ◽

B. Lloyd ◽

B.A. Stone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Hormone ◽

Fusion Gene ◽

Transgenic Animals ◽

Growth Hormone Gene ◽

Gene Sequences ◽

Transgenic Pigs ◽

Gene Construct ◽

Metallothionein Promoter

Six transgenic pigs have been produced by microinjecting a human metallothionein promoter/porcine growth hormone gene construct into the pronuclei of fertilized eggs which were transferred to synchronized recipient sows. The resulting transgenic animals contained between 0.5 and 15 copies of the gene construct per cell, and at least one of the animals expressed the introduced gene and grew at an increased rate compared to both transgenic and non-transgenic littermates. Some of the transgenic animals that did not appear to grow at increased rates were found to contain rearranged gene sequences. Two of the transgenic pigs have been shown to pass on the introduced genes to their offspring.

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