What is the difference between a knockout animal and a transgenic animal?

Sourav PanSeptember 20, 2024

Answered

The main differences between a knockout animal and a transgenic animal are:

1. Definition:
   • Transgenic Animal: An animal that has been genetically modified to carry a gene from another species. This gene can provide new traits or characteristics.
   • Knockout Animal: An animal in which a specific gene has been deliberately inactivated or “knocked out” to study the effects of losing that gene.
2. Purpose:
   • Transgenic: Typically used to introduce new traits, study gene function, or produce proteins for medical purposes.
   • Knockout: Used to understand the role of a specific gene in development, disease, or other biological processes.
3. Genetic Modification:
   • Transgenic: Involves the addition of foreign genetic material.
   • Knockout: Involves the removal or disruption of an existing gene.

In summary, transgenic animals incorporate foreign genes, while knockout animals have specific genes disabled.