The Impact of Biotechnology on Animals
a journey through the lives of animals and how they benefit humans...
Projects with Animals
Rhesus Macaque
Most animals lack the physiology to properly conduct experiment; however researchers have discovered that the Macaque is only second in line to the chimpanzee when compared to humans. Macaques have been models for over 70 various diseases ranging from bacteria to viruses. They are capable of adapting to almost any ecological environment and work well in captivity. Several of the diseases that macaques have aided with include:
Many believe that during these experiments, the monkeys are treated ruthlessly. Researchers, however, deny this claim and state they follow strict regulations and laws concerning animal welfare. Before a drug can be approved by the FDA, it must be tested; researchers prefer to choose macaques as they are highly adaptable to captivity and therefore are the ideal test model for various drugs. Read more about the ethics and social issues involved with all test animals HERE
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Macaques are the ideal model for such a dangerous disease because a similar disease was identified in them: Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV). When infected with HIV, they exhibit the similar symptoms to those of infected humans. Scientists have tested several drugs such as -tenofovir, emtricitabine, and efaviren, that seems to prevent HIV, and therefore may prevent the disease in humans as well. For more information on why they are the ideal model for the HIV strain visit HERE
Influenza
The H1N1 influenza pandemic has stimulated the growth of research that requires the use of Macaques as models. To determine which pathogen was the most dangerous, researchers used a reconstructed Spanish influenza virus and an isolate, referred to as VN/1203. Although both diseases were discovered to be life threatening, the Spanish influenza virus resulted in much more serious reactions that were untreatable. Without the aid of these mammals, researchers would have not been successful in determining the dangerous consequences of certain pathogens. For information on how the Macaques aided in the influenza research visit HERE
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Chickenpox/Varicella zoster
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Measles
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Yellow Fever
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Hepatitis B,C,E,G
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Gastric Cancer
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Streptococcal Pneumonia
To find out even more disease visit HERE
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OTHER WELL KNOW DISEASES INCLUDE
CONCERNS
Transgenic Fish
AquAdvantage Salmon
The transgensic fish is the first approved food by the FDA, which is considered safe for humans to consume. The salmon has been altered by a gene from the Chinook salmon, which results in it growing much faster than the average fish.
Presented by the AquAdvantage team this graph compares the growth curves of an average salmon to an AquAdvantage salmon. Visit their website for more information: http://www.aquabounty.com/products/products-295.aspx
Farmers however, worry that these fish will escape and reproduce in the wild, therefore, affecting the wild populations. The company does assures everyone that such an event will not be allowed to happen as they will be grown in isolated and sterile confinements.
Glofish:
The glofish is trademark brand of genetically altered fish that glow. The researchers, introduced a green florescent protein taken from a jellyfish into a zebra fish, which allowed the fish to glow under white light as well as ultraviolet light. The fish were originally created to detect environmental contaminants. The glowfish are not individually altered, as the trait can be passed on from generation to generation. Find more information on their website:http://www.glofish.com/about/faq/
GROWTH CURVE
Insects are responsible for transmitting some of the world’s most devastating diseases. To control this dangerous spread of disease, researchers apply two methods:
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Altering the insects so they are incapable of transmitting the disease to humans
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Reducing or eliminating the population through sterilization
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
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Sterile Insect Technique is one procedure that aids in eliminating entire population of insects. Because many female insects mate only once, the population will be dramatically reduced if they were to mate with a sterile male. In SIT, large populations of sterile males are released, which gradually results in the reduction of the insects. Such a process, however, is largely damaging for certain insects and require extra research on the separation of sexes.
The The British Columbia Sterile Insect Release Program releases over 200 million moths annually. The organization creation hundreds of moths weekly and later releases them into the Okanogan and Kootenay valley fruit growing regions. The process is highlighted:
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After radiation, the sterile moths are released
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The sterile moths mate with wild moths
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The eggs that the wild moths produce are infertile
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The infertile eggs result in no larva produced
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RIDL: involves genetically modifying the insects so their offspring dies. As their offspring are not adapted to the RIDL gene, they do not survive to adulthood. RIDL can be created to affect the offspring at different stages of their life. The insects can only survive and reproduce if they are fed a special diet containing the proper supplement.
Plasmodium parasites are transmitted by the Anopheles mosquitoes to humans as their own immune system blocks the parasite. The few parasites the escape the immune system are responsible for malaria. Researchers are currently attempting to create stronger immune response, so the mosquitoes can completely eradicate the parasites. Similar research is underway for dengue. Find more information on the research:
To carefully integrate the new genes in the entire population, researches apply the “gene-drive techniques”. The technique includes GM males that only mate with GM females, so as to kill of the wildlife females and reduce the insects’ populatIon. Find more information HERE
The RIDL system was developed by Oxitec. Learn more about the organization commited to biological control HERE
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