Knockout Mice And Cloning

Question 1

What is a knockout mouse

Answer 1

Lab-bred mice that have a section of DNA inactivated, often by inserting artificial DNA

Question 2

What are knockout mice used for

Answer 2

Investigate the effect of a particular gene in order to study genetic disease and develop treatments

Question 3

Explain the process of a knockout mouse

Answer 3

• Create the knockout mouse with the homozygous gene
• Deactivate the chosen gene
• Insert the new chosen gene
• Implant the embryo into the surrogate mouse

Question 4

Explain the process of cloning

Answer 4

• An exact copy of an organism is made.
• DNA is extracted from an adult animal and used to replace the DNA in a fertilised ovum.
• The embryo is then implanted in a surrogate mother
• The offspring will be genetically identical to the adult that donated the DNA

Question 5

Why do cloned animals have a shorter lifespan and more health issues

Answer 5

It is mainly due to the relative age of the cloned cells chromosomes

Question 6

State some health issues cloned animals can get

Answer 6

• Heart defects
• Liver defects
• Kidney failure
• Issues with immune system
• Low survival rate of cloned embryos