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Transgenic sheep and wool growth: possibilities and current status
B C Powell1, S K Walker, C S Bawden
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Adelaide, Australia.
Reproduction, Fertility, and Development
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Gene manipulation in sheep offers new ways to improve wool quality and growth. Researchers achieved a 13% success rate in producing transgenic sheep, with some showing altered fleece characteristics and increased cysteine production.
Area of Science:
- Animal genetics
- Sheep transgenesis
- Wool fiber science
Background:
- Merino wool quality and performance improvements are ongoing goals.
- Sheep transgenesis enables study of wool keratin protein and fiber properties.
- Gene manipulation offers novel changes to wool fiber characteristics and growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish an efficient sheep transgenesis program.
- To investigate wool keratin gene constructs for improved fiber properties.
- To enhance wool growth rate via increased cysteine supply to follicles.
Main Methods:
- Developed an efficient sheep transgenesis program achieving a 13% transgenic rate in lambs.
- Produced four live F0 transgenic sheep expressing a wool keratin type II intermediate filament gene.
- Generated transgenic sheep with cysteine synthesis genes using Rous sarcoma virus, mouse phosphoglycerate kinase, and sheep small proline-rich protein promoters.
Main Results:
- Transgenic sheep expressing a keratin gene showed phenotypic and ultrastructural fleece changes.
- One transgenic sheep produced low levels of cysteine in the rumen using the small proline-rich protein promoter.
- Cysteine production in the rumen was not detectable at 6 months of age.
Conclusions:
- Sheep transgenesis is a viable method for altering wool characteristics and growth.
- Further optimization is needed to enhance cysteine production for improved wool growth rates.
- The study demonstrates potential for genetic modification to improve wool production in sheep.