Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

Which of the following best describes how transgenic animals are created?

1. Through cloning

2. By altering their genes

3. Via traditional breeding methods

4. Through selective mutagenesis

The correct answer is: By altering their genes

Transgenic animals are best described as those that have had their genes altered through genetic engineering techniques, which is precisely what option B states. This process typically involves the introduction of a foreign gene, referred to as a transgene, into the animal's genome. This can be achieved using various methods such as microinjection, where DNA is directly injected into fertilized eggs, or using viral vectors that can deliver genetic material to the target cells. The fundamentally transformative nature of this approach allows for specific traits or characteristics, such as disease resistance or improved growth rates, to be expressed in the animals, enabling research and applications that are not possible through traditional methods. Thus, the creation of transgenic animals represents a significant advancement over conventional breeding techniques and is pivotal in fields such as biomedical research, agriculture, and gene therapy. Other options, while relevant to genetic manipulation or breeding, do not specifically address the direct alteration of genes in the manner that transgenic technology does. Cloning, for example, produces genetically identical copies of an organism rather than altering the genetic material. Traditional breeding involves selecting existing traits without introducing foreign genes, which contrasts with the concept of transgenic species. Selective mutagenesis involves inducing mutations in an organism's DNA, which is