Award details

Uses of embryonic cell lines in biology, biotechnology and agriculture

Reference	BBS/E/R/04780617
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr James McWhir
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Roslin Institute
Department	The Roslin Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	154,206
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/1998
Duration	12 months

Abstract

The opportunity to select and characterise modified embryonic stem cell (ES) clones in culture has led to systems for targeting precise changes to endogenous genes in mice. In addition to the use of gene targeting to address problems of gene function (currently collaborating on 4 such projects both within and outwith R.I.), this group has interests in developing cell culture routes to targeted transgenesis in farm animal species and in isolation of ES-derived somatic progenitor cells (1) TNT cells in sheep. We have developed an ovine embryo-derived cell line which is totipotential in nuclear transfer experiments (TNT cells). Live lambs have been generated following nuclear transfer from cells cultured for 13 passages. We are now developing techniques to use this system to produce transgenic and targeted sheep. (2) ES lines from non-permissive mouse strains. Many strains of mouse are refractory to ES isolation and constitute a model for ES isolation in other species. We have isolated ES lines from non-permissive embryos by selection for expression of an early marker of undifferentiated cells. (3) ES-derived somatic stem cells. Many somatic cell types cannot be entered into long term culture, yet have important therapeutic applications. Our strategy is to use gene targeting to generate lineage-specific selectable markers for neuroepithelial stem cells and myoblasts respectively, and to select single lineages following short term differentiation of ES cells (embryonic lineage clones or ELCs). Strategies 1 and 2 are critical to the development of gene targeting technologies in farm animals and are particularly relevant to GDB and BCN within BBSRC and to the genetic engineering component of foresight. These areas are independently the subjects of patent applications. Strategy 3 is relevant to transplantation and gene therapies, mapping directly onto BCB within BBSRC.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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