Animal Cloning and Transgenesis

Two techniques, cloning and transgenesis, offer new possibilities to improve the exploitation of farm animal genomes. Cloning is a way to generate genitors having the same genome as that of their genetic parents. This allows the prolonged use of genitors having a high value genome validated by the properties of their offspring born after sexual reproduction. Transgenesis is a way to introduce known new traits into genitors in only one generation. This implies foreign gene addition to a genome or specific inactivation of endogenous genes. Among the current projects are the generation and the study of animals having resistance to diseases, accelerated growth, improved milk or meat composition, milk containing anti-pathogen proteins or reducing pollution. Cloning and transgenesis are thus opposite but complementary techniques.