Rats tailored to the human being

2003/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

American researchers have achieved the birth of rats with certain genetic characteristics. These rats lack a gene that controls breast cancer in humans. These types of strategies are common in disease research, but usually work with the mouse.

Transgenic mice are obtained by introducing genetically modified stem cells in pregnant females. However, with rats this technique has failed. Therefore, instead of using stem cells, American researchers have supplied rats with chemical compounds that cause DNA mutations. Then rats have proliferated normally and researchers have analyzed their offspring to choose those who have mutations that interest them.

It does not seem that, at least with this methodology, rats replace mice in laboratories, but in certain cases they will be useful. Rats are larger than mice, making them easier to handle and more suitable models for certain diseases. Breast cancer is one of them.