Researchers Create Targeted Genetically Modified Rats Using ZFN Technology

Scientists from The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Sangamo Biosciences, Sigma-Aldrich, Open Monoclonal Technology, and Inserm have announced the creation of genetically modified mammals developed using Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN) technology.

Researchers describe the application of ZFNs to generate rats with permanent, heritable gene mutations, paving the way for the development of genetically modified animal models of human disease. The technology will make the generation of such animals faster and will create opportunities in species other than mice.

"Until now, rat geneticists lacked a viable technique for 'knocking out,' or mutating, specific genes to understand their function," said Howard Jacob, PhD, Director of the Human and Molecular Genetics Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin. "This study demonstrates that ZFN technology bypasses the current need to conduct cumbersome experiments involving nuclear transfer (cloning) or embryonic stem cells and allows rapid creation of new animal models."

Scientists used ZFNs to knock out an inserted reporter gene and two native rat genes without causing measurable effects on other genes. The offspring of the ZFN-mutated rats also carried the modifications, demonstrating that the genetic changes were permanent and heritable.

Together, these results demonstrate the ability to deliver engineered ZFNs into early-stage embryos and rapidly generate heritable, knockout mutations in a whole organism.