Genetically Modified Animal

Genetically modified animals are animals that have been genetically modified for a variety of purposes including producing drugs, enhancing yields, increasing resistance to disease, etc. Genetically modified animals are commonly used for experimentation in pharmacology. Such models help identify disease pathways and allow the assessment of new therapies. Analyzing gene function is an area in which the use of GM animals is likely to rise significantly because by modifying a gene, its various roles in different functional systems of the body can be identified. Most GM animals are used in genetic studies, and nearly all of them are mice and rats. They may be used in basic research to discover the function of a particular gene - in embryonic development or the ageing of cells, for instance - or in the study of diseases.