Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026

06:05
A Revised Surgical Approach to Induce Endolymphatic Hydrops in the Guinea Pig
Published on: June 4, 2020
6.5K
Anephrogenic phenotype induced by SALL1 gene knockout in pigs
Masahito Watanabe1, Kazuaki Nakano2, Ayuko Uchikura2
1Meiji University International Institute for Bio-Resource Research, Kawasaki, 214-8571, Japan.
Scientific Reports
|May 31, 2019
Summary
Scientists created genetically engineered pigs lacking kidneys to help with organ transplantation. This research paves the way for growing human organs in pig fetuses, addressing organ shortages.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Organ transplantation faces a critical shortage of donor organs.
- Generating human organs in animal models is a promising strategy.
- Genetically engineered pigs can provide developmental niches for organogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the feasibility of generating anephrogenic (kidney-less) pig fetuses using genome editing.
- To establish a genetically engineered pig model for human kidney regeneration.
- To investigate the role of SALL1 in pig kidney development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to induce SALL1 knockout (KO) in pig zygotes.
- Analyzed SALL1 expression and kidney structure in SALL1-KO pig fetuses.
- Produced and characterized F1 progeny from SALL1-mutant founder pigs.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated anephrogenic pig fetuses by inducing SALL1 KO.
- Observed extinguished SALL1 expression and severe nephrogenic defects in SALL1-KO fetuses.
- Established a line of fertile SALL1-mutant pigs capable of reliably inducing the anephrogenic phenotype.
Conclusions:
- Genome editing of SALL1 is a viable strategy to create kidney-less pig fetuses.
- This genetically engineered pig model provides a foundation for human kidney regeneration.
- The study offers crucial technical groundwork for xenotransplantation and regenerative medicine.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Combinatorial Gene Control
9.5K
Combinatorial gene control is the synergistic action of several transcriptional factors to regulate the expression of a single gene. The absence of one or more of these factors may lead to a significant difference in the level of gene expression or repression.
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...
9.5K
Gene Flow
37.6K
Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
37.6K
Gene Families
9.9K
Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
9.9K
Gene Therapy
27.4K
Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be...
27.4K
What is Gene Expression?
195.2K
Overview
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
195.2K
Organization of Genes
73.2K
Overview
73.2K

