Production of transgenic chickens using an avian retroviral vector

Conference · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6022686

Kopchick, J; Mills, E; Rosenblum, C; Taylor, J; Kelder, B; Smith, J; Chen, H

The authors efforts to insert genes into the chicken germ line are dependent upon the ability of exogenous avian retroviruses to infect chicken germ cells. They have used a transformation defective Schmidt Ruppin A strain of Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV-SRA) in their initial experiments. The general protocol involved generating RSV-SRA viremic female chickens (Go), which shed exogenous virus via the oviduct. As the fertilized egg passes through the oviduct, embryonic cells are exposed to the virus. If the germ cell precursors are infected by the virus, offspring (G1) should be generated which are capable of passing the viral DNA to the next generation (G2). Fifteen viremic G1 males were selected for breeding and progeny testing. Since male chickens do not congenitally pass retroviruses through semen, production of viremic G2 offspring indicates germ line DNA transmission. This is confirmed by DNA analysis of the experimental chickens. Using a specific probe for exogenous retrovirus, they have detected the presence of RSV-SRA DNA in viremic chickens. Southern DNA analysis revealed junction fragments for RSV-SRA DNA in viremic G2 chickens, but not in non-viremic siblings. Furthermore, DNA isolated from various tissues of a viremic G2 chicken showed an identical DNA junction fragment pattern, indicating all tissues were derived from the same embryonic cell which contained integrated provirus. To date they have generated 50 transgenic chickens.

• Research Organization: Merck Sharp and Dohme Research Labs., Rahway, NJ
• OSTI ID: 6022686
• Report Number(s): CONF-870644-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Fed. Proc., Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol.; (United States) Journal Volume: 46:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550400* -- Genetics
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BIRDS
CHICKENS
DNA
EGGS
ELECTROPHORESIS
EMBRYONIC CELLS
FOWL
GENES
GENETIC ENGINEERING
GERM CELLS
INFECTIVITY
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASITES
PROGENY
RECOMBINANT DNA
VERTEBRATES
VIRUSES