Mutating the Whole Genome-a Breakthrough Approach in Gene Targeting Technology

摘要

Gene targeting technology has undoubtedly revolutionized biomedical research, since its inception twenty years ago. Enhanced use of this technology has essentially made the mouse the most powerful mammalian model animal for probing the genetic rationale underlying human diseases, by disrupting a gene's function to generate knockout (KO) mice. Consequent to the increasing numbers of genomes being sequenced currently, the need for gene targeting to carry out functional studies of the mammalian genomes is rapidly growing.