Transgenic Mice in Neurobiological Research

The introduction of cloned genes into cells has greatly increased our knowledge of the factors that regulate the transcription of these genes and of the function of the proteins that they encode. Recently, techniques have been developed that allow the incorporation of cloned genes into the germline of mice (Gordon et al., 1980 9 ; Brinster et al., 1981 3 ; Costantini and Lacy, 1981 7 ). The generation of such transgenic animals has advanced our understanding of the elements involved in regulating tissue specificity and developmental expression of the incorporated genes. Additionally, these studies have yielded insight into the involvement of the transgenes in the physiology of the animal (Palmiter and Brinster, 1986 24 ). The application of this technique to genes of neurobiological interest can provide insights into the role specific genes play in the organization and function of the mammalian nervous system. In this article, we provide an overall view of the various aspects involved in generating transgenic animals and some of the potential applications of the technique to genes of neurobiological importance.