Animal biotechnologies

Abstract

Recent progress in biology, namely those related to nucleic acids and proteins function offer new very promising strategies for domestic animals breeding. Nucleic acid probes allow sex determination in early bovine embryo. More generally, the numerous probes which are progressively becoming available and genome maping will give a much better knowledge of animals. New strategies for selection which will be more subtle and faster will appear. The bulky preparation of recombinant peptides (antigens from pathogenic agents, hormones, cytokins, monoclonal antibodies...) suggests that new treatments of animals will be used routinely. New techniques related to mammals reproduction : in vitro oocyte maturation, in vitro fertilization, in vitro early embryo development, duplication of embryos through cleavage and cloning) will be progressively added to the already existing techniques (artificial insemination, embryo transfer). They will contribute to shorten the reproductive cycle and selection programmes. Genetic engineering in the best situation will allow to administer a protein to animals through gene transfer to somatic cells (gene therapy) or to early embryos (transgenesis). Gene therapy may give the possibility to be no more obliged to inject a peptide repeatedly whereas transgenesis leads to the generation of new animal breeds exhibiting new genetic properties provided by the transgenes. These methods which are the most potent and the most promising will not become a reality for animal breeding before the end of this century.