Animal Productivity and Genetic Diversity: Clones and Transgenic Animals. Wall, R., Laible, G., Maga, E., Seidel, G., J., & Whitelaw, B. 2009.
abstract   bibtex   
Improvements in agronomic traits in all livestock species have been achieved during the past several decades using reproductive technologies. Cloning and transgenesis are the most recent of these technologies, providing geneticists with additional tools to influence population genetics. This Issue Paper describes both of these technologies, addresses their strengths and limitations, and provides a framework for discussion about their future use. Cloning is a reproductive tool that can be used to narrow or broaden genetic diversity. Somatic cell nuclear transfer is the most common method of animal cloning and is more efficient than other procedures for some applications, resulting in the use of fewer experimental animals to achieve success. Other cloning methods include embryonic cell nuclear transfer, using nuclei from cryopreserved, genetically superior cell lines, and bisecting and trisecting preimplantation embryos. The value of cloning genetically superior animals will vary depending on the situation. Cloning could increase the frequency of a desirable trait in the cattle population, but because of the diverse nature of animal agriculture, one phenotype of cattle will not fit all needs. Whereas a cloned animal is genetically identical to the one from which it came, a transgenic animal is one into which a new gene has been introduced or in which an existing gene has been modified by human intervention. This technology offers potential solutions to some limitations of selective breeding while simultaneously providing opportunities for increasing the genetic diversity of populations. Applications of transgenic technology can create animals that are better able to combat or resist infection, improve food safety and quality, increase production efficiency, decrease the environmental footprint of livestock production, and introduce new characteristics into the gene pool. The technology may eventually be used to manipulate complex traits controlled by multiple genes. One main limitation to the development of cloning and transgenic technologies has been the lack of public acceptance. The public has been tentative to accept cloning as an animal breeding method, even though there is scientific consensus that no difference exists between food products of cloned animals and the same products of noncloned animals; this perspective recently has been supported by both a National Research Council study and by U.S. Food and Drug Administration evaluations. The authors of this paper suggest that proponents of biotechnological approaches consider consumers’ concerns, and that the government develop a regulatory process that addresses consumers’ apprehension while offering realistic expectations of biotechnology.
@misc{
 title = {Animal Productivity and Genetic Diversity:  Clones and Transgenic Animals},
 type = {misc},
 year = {2009},
 issue = {Part 8},
 publisher = {Council for Agricultural Science and Technology},
 city = {Ames, Iowa},
 id = {4440393a-6ccf-30c1-93b0-64eee163cd50},
 created = {2012-01-05T13:09:45.000Z},
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 group_id = {0e532975-1a47-38a4-ace8-4fe5968bcd72},
 last_modified = {2012-01-05T13:15:15.000Z},
 tags = {clones,economic,productivity,review},
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 starred = {false},
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 source_type = {Report},
 abstract = {Improvements in agronomic traits in all livestock species have been achieved during the past several decades using reproductive technologies. Cloning and transgenesis are the most recent of these technologies, providing geneticists with additional tools to influence population genetics. This Issue Paper describes both of these technologies, addresses their strengths and limitations, and provides a framework for discussion about their future use. Cloning is a reproductive tool that can be used to narrow or broaden genetic diversity. Somatic cell nuclear transfer is the most common method of animal cloning and is more efficient than other procedures for some applications, resulting in the use of fewer experimental animals to achieve success. Other cloning methods include embryonic cell nuclear transfer, using nuclei from cryopreserved, genetically superior cell lines, and bisecting and trisecting preimplantation embryos. The value of cloning genetically superior animals will vary depending on the situation. Cloning could increase the frequency of a desirable trait in the cattle population, but because of the diverse nature of animal agriculture, one phenotype of cattle will not fit all needs. Whereas a cloned animal is genetically identical to the one from which it came, a transgenic animal is one into which a new gene has been introduced or in which an existing gene has been modified by human intervention. This technology offers potential solutions to some limitations of selective breeding while simultaneously providing opportunities for increasing the genetic diversity of populations. Applications of transgenic technology can create animals that are better able to combat or resist infection, improve food safety and quality, increase production efficiency, decrease the environmental footprint of livestock production, and introduce new characteristics into the gene pool. The technology may eventually be used to manipulate complex traits controlled by multiple genes. One main limitation to the development of cloning and transgenic technologies has been the lack of public acceptance. The public has been tentative to accept cloning as an animal breeding method, even though there is scientific consensus that no difference exists between food products of cloned animals and the same products of noncloned animals; this perspective recently has been supported by both a National Research Council study and by U.S. Food and Drug Administration evaluations. The authors of this paper suggest that proponents of biotechnological approaches consider consumers’ concerns, and that the government develop a regulatory process that addresses consumers’ apprehension while offering realistic expectations of biotechnology.},
 bibtype = {misc},
 author = {Wall, Robert and Laible, Gotz and Maga, Elizabeth and Seidel, George Jr. and Whitelaw, Bruce}
}

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