• Question: Is it possible to get animals that are completely the same without geneticly modifying them, if so how?

    Asked by xxsneekymugxx to Charlotte, Jo, Kevin, Louise, Valeria on 14 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Joanna Cruden

      Joanna Cruden answered on 14 Jun 2012:

      Producing animals which are genetically the same is done by in-breeding over roughly 20 generations although this may vary with species, in-breeding is when there is brother: sister mating, however this type of breeding produces various weakness and defects in the species because weak genes which are usually repressed by dominate genes, become viable as genes so this type of breeding has to be carried out by experts and very carefully monitored.

      It is why it is important to have a wide breeding pool of animals to ensure there is a dilution of genetics, and why pedigree dogs are not as robust as cross breeds.

      Genetic Modification is when the genes of the animals are manipulated to create a model of a disease, sometimes genes are inserted and sometimes they are knocked out (removed) t

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