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​Transgenic

updated: March 18, 2024

Definition

Transgenic refers to an organism or cell whose genome has been altered by the introduction of one or more foreign DNA sequences from another species by artificial means. Transgenic organisms are generated in the laboratory for research purposes.

 Transgenic


Narration

Transgenic. Transgenic has been used in genetic studies for a long time. They were used to demonstrate that DNA is the molecule that carries the genetic code and that oncogenes can cause cancer. Transgenic animals have been generated to understand normal physiological processes such as metabolism and blood cell production. Transgenic animals have been used to model human diseases and to develop new treatments. Transgenic crops have been produced that are resistant to infectious diseases and grow faster.

Paul Liu
Paul P. Liu, M.D., Ph.D.

Senior Investigator

Translational and Functional Genomics Branch