An overview of transgenic animals: Benefits, risks, and regulations

A transgenic animal refers to an animal that has purposefully had its genome modified by direct human interference to achieve a specific modification goal. This method involves foreign DNA being introduced to the animal using recombinant DNA techniques. Usually, animal modifications are done for specific purposes, like for aesthetics, creating animals that glow in the dark to those that are designed purposely for agricultural and economic output like fast-growing salmon to supplement existing production capacities. Also, to monitor newly produced drugs or a new medical technique treatment of disease before applying on humans aiming to protect potential side effects. Whatever the purpose of creating such exotic organisms are human curiosity and capacity to modify life itself is here to stay. In this paper, we present a review of the advantages and disadvantages of this approach since it was first introduced to the world and subsequent discoveries gathered in the few decades since the promises and limitations of creating transgenic animals and organizations which are responsible for controlling regulations have also been outlined. We also looked into the rules and regulations guiding this very sensitive scientific endeavor by various international and national bodies (with emphasis on developed countries regarding transgenic animals). We highlighted some of the modern scientific developments that promise to have a massive impact in the field of genetically engineering animals. In the end, the future of using the technique, or risk potentials was reviewed.