Transgenic and null mutant animals for psychosomatic research

Progress in the use of genetically altered animals for psychosomatic research is reviewed.

Analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of these models, particularly from a developmental and behavioral prospective is used to assess the validity of these models.

Genetically altered animals can be used to create models of the estimated 5000 human diseases in which genetic predispositions play a role, as well as models for diseases that do not involve gene defects, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In addition, these models have already contributed immensely to our understanding of basic biology and the biology of behavior. Replication of human gene defects in mice has provided direct models of human disease, but there are various factors that sometimes prevent the gene defect from producing the human disease in mice. However, even in this case, the models can contribute to understanding the basic biology of the disease.

While genetically altered animals have revolutionized the understanding of single gene disorders, their promise has not yet been fulfilled for multigenic behavioral disorders. Newer techniques to allow control of the tissue and stage of development at which a gene is expressed are likely to enhance the usefulness of these models for psychosomatic research. New models of disease for testing psychological impacts on illness and specific ways altering neurotransmitter function will be discovered. While these models will be extremely useful to psychosomatic medicine, the nature of this discipline of necessity involves emphasis on individual experience, and thus will never be amenable to exclusively genetic analysis.