Transgenic Rat Models
Since 1998, ingenious targeting laboratory has generated over 2,800 generated mouse and rat models, with hundreds of transgenic rat projects enabling stable overexpression of transgenes, ectopic expression of therapeutic genes, and BAC based integration of large regulatory elements in larger rodents providing superior phenotypic complexity. Transgenic rats represent a valuable platform for disease models where gene overexpression or tissue specific expression patterns require rodent body size and behavioral sophistication.
Transgenic rat models permit investigation of gain of function mechanisms through controlled transgene overexpression in intact animals with physiological complexity exceeding transgenic mice. The ability to monitor disease progression in larger organisms enables longitudinal studies revealing temporal dynamics and chronic consequences of transgene expression.
Frequently asked questions
Single copy transgenic lines typically show stable inheritance and consistent expression across multiple generations. Multi copy lines may show variable copy number transmission, but usually stabilize by F1 generation. Expression stability depends substantially on integration site and transgene design.
Yes, BAC transgenic rats successfully integrate BAC clones spanning 100 to 200 kilobases. Integration efficiency may decrease slightly with increasing insert size, but robust transgenic lines are reliably generated. Integration site characterization confirms proper integration.
Separate injection rounds can generate transgenic lines each carrying different transgenes. Crossing such lines generates animals expressing multiple transgenes. Alternatively, bicistronic cassettes using IRES or 2A sequences permit simultaneous expression from single transgene.
