| The elucidation of diseases and their origins entered a new era since the beginning of genome sequencing projects. As a result of the knowledge gained from accumulated gene data, more and more states of illness are being linked to inherited genetic backgrounds or to gene mutations. Thus, genetic research is opening novel paths for medical diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. Mammal genomes carry approximately 30-40’000 functional genes, which are dispersed over 23 pairs of chromosomes in the case of humans. To date, about 10’000 genes have been unveiled as possible drug targets in the human genome, of which a mere 500 are presently known and dealt with. While major efforts are undertaken to identify and characterize new targets, experimental validation in cells, tissues, organs and living beings remain prerequisites to implementing clinical trials. Accordingly, transgenic mice continue to play an essential role in the process of research and pre-clinical validation of drug target candidates. The mouse species offers most appreciable advantages for scientific research, not only because of small size, breeding capacity, and short generation times, but mouse counterparts have been found for all known human genes. Furthermore, due to the vast range of common metabolic traits, transgenic mouse models have been found to perfectly mimic human disorders (for example in the fields of neurology, cardiology, metabolism, oncology, endocrinology and immunology). In the beginnings, the generation of a transgenic mouse represented a major accomplishment. Nowadays, based on the pioneer work achieved, conventional transgenesis has become an indispensable research tool, and a service one needs to be able to fully rely upon. Nevertheless, prevailing genetic engineering and transgenesis methods cannot hold the pace with modern high-throughput screening technologies. Random insertion of transgenes, variable gene-expression patterns and thus the need for multiple transgenic variants, heterogeneity of genetic backgrounds and consequently the difficulties in cross-comparisons, are but a few of the commonly encountered hurdles in transgenic mouse investigations. Hence, with increasing project complexity and the obvious necessity of in vivo drug target validation, researchers actually require significantly improved high-throughput transgenic approaches, to benefit their endeavours in elucidating gene function and developing novel therapeutics. At the same time, ethical concerns imply experimenting with as limited a number of transgenic mice as possible, while paying particular attention to animal welfare. Bearing these principles in mind, PolyGene has established and now offers dependable transgenic services as well as Transgenic Targeting, which it envisions as lead-services poised to set higher and new standards in mouse transgenesis, respectively. On account of its broad experience, its sophisticated equipment and reasonable constraints by Swiss authorities, PolyGene takes pride in swiftly and reliably processing mandated projects. |
