Analysis by quantitative PCR of zygosity in genetically modified organisms

Methods Mol Biol. 2010:597:277-85. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60327-389-3_19.

Abstract

It is extremely useful to define a rapid and accurate method for identifying homozygous and heterozygous transgenic animals prior to setting up breeding programs for transgenic colonies and in experiments in which gene dosage effects could have a functional impact. Southern-blotting is a means of identifying zygosity, but such a method is time consuming and produces a high level of ambiguous results. Some years ago, we described the rapid, precise, non-ambiguous, and high-throughput identification of zygosity in transgenic animals by real-time PCR. This technique allows us to make a clear-cut identification of transgenic rats, transgenic mice, and double-transgenic pigs. Since 2002, however, several authors have made improvements to this method. The following paper describes the ease with which zygosity is determined using real-time PCR.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified / genetics*
  • Genetic Carrier Screening / methods*
  • Heterozygote*
  • Homozygote*
  • Mice
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / economics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Rats