GENE KNOCK THEORY

Gene knock theory helps in prediction of relationship between gene function and protein metabolism. In this mechanism, a specific gene is produced from a model organism. Mostly preferred model organism is mouse. Genes are made ineffective in the model organism and after which offspring’s are produced with ineffective genes. This is practiced to observe function of organism with the disabled gene. With the help of embryonic stem cell technology, this knock in technology and knock out technology is plausible. The homologous recombination of similar DNA sequence of identical genome and transfecting DNA happens after introducing DNA in to the cells. For instance, neomycin resistant gene is inserted in to DNA fragments. This is inserted in to specific gene or protein of interest. Marker is used to identify the transfected gene. Probability of offspring production is less as heterozygous genes development chances are more.

Gene knock out technology

The gene disabling technique or gene shut off is referred as gene knock out technology. In gene knock technology, a typical embryonic stem cell are genetically engineered and inserted in to embryo. Engineered embryo is injected in to womb of model organism host. During reproduction, embryonic stem cell shall give sperm and egg of knocked gene type. Knocked gene function can be altered accordingly.

Gene knock in technology

As similar to gene knock out, targeted gene may not be disabled resulting in targeted mutated gene. This technique is referred as knock in technology. Resulting offspring will have a knocked gene.

History of gene knock theory

Use of embryonic stem cells for gene modification- Mario Capechi, Martin Evas and Oilver Smithies was awarded Nobel Prize for their invention. This helps in identification of gene in detail. Gene knock manipulation technology defines the similarity between human genomes and model organisms. Oliver Smithies found homologous recombination of human haptoglobin genes during 1960’s. Smithies and his coworkers inserted DNA fragments in to erthryoleukemia cell linage. Mario Capecchi introduced a method of inserting DNA in to nucleus. This helps in easy transfer of genetic material like DNA in to chromosome.

Questions:

• What is gene knock in theory?
• What is gene knock out theory?
• What is embryonic stem cell?