Knock-In, Knock-Out, Knock-Down, Transgenic Mice?

[haziiie]

What are the main points to know (in the simplest/most concise way possible) about the differences between these four types of genetic manipulation--knock in, knock out, knock down, and transgenic?

I'm really having a hard time wrapping my head around these concepts...

[Kaiba]

Knock Out mice have specific genes that are made to be null. Its like Knocking out the gene totally of the mouse's genome.

Knock-in mice are mice that have a specific gene inserted into their genome.

Transgenic mice are mice that have genes from other organisms inserted into their genome, hence the name TRANSgeneic

I have not heard of knock down mice

[Kaiba]

Knock Out mice have specific genes that are made to be null. Its like Knocking out the gene totally of the mouse's genome.

Knock-in mice are mice that have a specific gene inserted into their genome.

Transgenic mice are mice that have genes from other organisms inserted into their genome, hence the name TRANSgeneic

I have not heard of knock down mice

[Kaiba]

Knock Out mice have specific genes that are made to be null. Its like Knocking out the gene totally of the mouse's genome.

Knock-in mice are mice that have a specific gene inserted into their genome.

Transgenic mice are mice that have genes from other organisms inserted into their genome, hence the name TRANSgeneic

I have not heard of knock down mice

[Dhamsie]

all that kaiba's posted...plus 'knock down' mice are those where the 'gene expression is brought down by using RNAi technology' (small intefering RNA- check out wikipedia for more info)...the idea being that the gene is transcribed into mRNA but the protein is not expressed cause the mRNA is destroyed. So one sees a little protein but much less in comparison to a normal mouse.

So let me summarize-
Knock out = taking out the gene
Knock in = puttin in a mouse gene
Transgenic= puttin in a gene or part of a gene from another organism
Knock down= bringing down gene expression by targeting mRNA transcripts

[thirupugal]

Knockout : Remove complete or part of the gene from the genome
Knockin : inserting external elements in to the genome like GFP/RFP or LacZ
Transgenic : over expressing particular gene in in vivo, similar way like overexpressing proteins in mammalian cells