How to analyze and name the genotypes of transgenic animals?

  Animal pups born after microinjection need to be analyzed as soon as possible to identify animals that are positive for the transgene. The primary animal that is determined to contain the transgene is called the founder of the transgene. Then, the original line is mated with wild-type animals of the desired genetic background to establish a stable transgenic line. Breed transgenic animal strains and measure transgene expression levels and analyze phenotypic changes. The PCR reaction is usually used to identify the genotype of the transgenic animal. The copy number of the transgene needs to be determined by Southern blotting analysis. Because the transgene is randomly inserted into the genome in multiple copies, PCR reaction is difficult to identify whether the transgene is homozygous or heterozygous; the method of animal mating can be used to determine homozygous and heterozygous. For example, if a transgenic animal is mated with a wild-type animal, if all the offspring born have a transgene, it means that the transgenic animal is homozygous; if there are only 50% of the positive offspring, it means that the original transgenic animal is heterozygous.

  The rapid development and wide application of transgenic animal technology has produced a large number of transgenic animals. How to name it is very important. The naming of transgenic mice is mainly based on the rules established by the Mouse Genome Informatics Database (MGI) (http://www.informatics.jax.org/). The MGI library contains official information on mouse genes, locus, and strain official names.

  Now take HLA-A2.1 transgenic mice as an example to illustrate the naming system of transgenic mice (Figure 3-6).

  Animal species: First indicate the type of mouse, such as 129, C57BL/6 and BALB/c, indicating its genetic background. Tg is a label for transgenic animals. Transgene name: The official name of the inserted foreign gene. Named by the researcher himself, it is represented by the gene symbol of the distinctive feature of the transgene, and parentheses are added. The first mouse number: after microinjection, multiple newborn mice are usually obtained, and their numbers are the numbers of transgenic mice. Laboratory code (ILAR code): The experimental registration code of the laboratory engaged in the research and production of genetically modified animals.