Transgenic Animals Biopiracy

Transgenic animals are organisms whose genome has been deliberately altered by introducing foreign DNA (a transgene) using recombinant DNA technology. The transgene integrates into the animal's genome and can be passed to offspring. NCERT Class 12 Biology Chapter 12 (Biotechnology and its Applications, page 250) lists specific purposes: studying normal physiology and development, studying disease, producing biological products, vaccine safety testing, and chemical safety (toxicity) testing.

Why NEET tests this: Questions target the purpose-to-example mapping. Aspirants confuse which transgenic animal model serves which purpose — particularly mixing up biological product synthesis (e.g., alpha-1-antitrypsin from transgenic sheep Rosie, alpha-lactalbumin from transgenic cow) with disease model creation (e.g., transgenic mice for cancer studies).

Key facts for recall:

• Rosie (cow) — produced human protein-enriched milk (alpha-lactalbumin, 2.4 g/L).
• Transgenic mice — used as disease models for cancer, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's.
• Vaccine testing — transgenic animals replace human trials for initial safety evaluation.
• Chemical safety testing — transgenic animals with specific sensitivity markers replace conventional animal testing protocols (more humane, faster).

Biopiracy is the exploitation of biological resources or traditional knowledge of developing nations by developed nations without proper authorization or compensatory payment. India's examples: turmeric patent (wound healing — revoked after challenge by CSIR), neem patent (antifungal properties — revoked at European Patent Office), basmati rice patent (RiceTec Inc. — partially revoked).

Watch-out: NEET stems may frame biopiracy as "theft of biodiversity" or "unauthorized commercial exploitation" — both are valid phrasings. The legal counter-framework is India's Biological Diversity Act (2002) and the Patent Amendment Act (2005, Section 3(p) — plants/animals not patentable).

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