Knockin Approaches

Molecular genetic approaches toward the study of gene function in mice have traditionally relied on either overexpression or gene ablation using transgenic or knockout mouse strategies, respectively. More recently, the knockin approach, which often combines features of both techniques, has allowed a more subtle analysis of genes. The protein coding region of a gene can be replaced by, e.g., a reporter gene, or a homologous gene of a different species, or related genes from the same organism. Even (point) mutations can be introduced into a gene, affecting the gene product itself.