CBSE Class 12-science Answered

The organisms which contain functional foreign genes experimentally introduced into their genome by genetic engineering from another species are called transgenic animals.

Benefits of transgenic animals:

1. Study of normal physiology and development: Transgenic animals are useful to study gene regulation, their effect on the normal functioning of the body and its development.

2. Study of diseases: Transgenic models have been developed for many human diseases like cancer, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease.

3. Vaccine safety: Transgenic mice have been developed to test the safety of vaccines before they are being used on humans.

4. Chemical safety testing: Transgenic animals are made to carry genes which make them more sensitive to the toxic substances than non-transgenic animals. On exposure to the toxic substances, their effects can be studied in a lesser time.