Unit 634: Animal Biotechnology

1. Introduction to Animal Biotechnology

• Definition and scope of animal biotechnology
• Importance in agriculture, medicine, and research
• Historical development and milestones
• Ethical considerations and societal impact

2. Genetic Engineering in Animals

2.1 Techniques

• Gene editing (CRISPR-Cas9, TALENs, ZFNs)
• Transgenesis: methods and vectors
• Cloning: somatic cell nuclear transfer and applications

2.2 Applications

• Agricultural improvements
• Medical research models
• Pharmaceutical production

3. Animal Biotechnology in Agriculture

• Livestock breeding and genetic improvement
• Disease resistance and health management
• Productivity enhancement: growth rate, milk yield, feed efficiency
• Production of bioengineered products (e.g., enzymes, hormones)

4. Animal Biotechnology in Medicine

• Pharmaceutical development using animals
• Xenotransplantation and organ transplantation advances
• Disease modeling using genetically modified animals
• Gene therapy and its potential in human healthcare

5. Ethical and Regulatory Issues in Animal Biotechnology

• Ethical dilemmas surrounding genetic modification
• Animal welfare concerns and humane treatment
• International and national regulatory frameworks
• Approaches for responsible and sustainable biotechnology practices

6. Biopharming and Animal Biotechnology

• Definition and principles of biopharming
• Production of therapeutic proteins and vaccines in genetically modified animals
• Case studies of biopharmaceuticals produced via animal biotechnology
• Challenges and opportunities in biopharming

7. Environmental Applications of Animal Biotechnology

• Role in conservation biology and endangered species restoration
• Environmental monitoring using transgenic animals
• Potential solutions to environmental challenges

8. Emerging Trends in Animal Biotechnology

• Advances in CRISPR and genome editing technologies
• Synthetic biology applications in animals
• Personalized medicine and animal models
• Future directions and innovations