The TGC Method - Protein Production in Livestock
tgcBIOMICS GmbH - a biotechnology company - is developing an entirely new method for producing somatic transgenic animals. The TGC method of "Targeted Genetic Conditioning" induces targeted, somatic transgenesis in the adult animal host. The TGC method enables the production of transgenic animals without interfering in the germ line. This ensures social consensus for application of the method.
Transgenic animals are primarily used for inexpensive and resource-saving production of recombinant proteins, for which a global market of US$ 50-70 billion is anticipated for the years 2005-2007*. During its lifespan, the individual transgenic animal can produce proteins at a market value of many hundred million US dollars*. The animals' high productive value and the TGC method's process technology advantages (rapid and inexpensive) will give users and tgcBIOMICS distinct competitive advantages over market competitors (see Fig. 2).
Fig. 2: The TGC Method
Deviating from the previously common, complicated and expensive methods of transferring hereditary information to host animals, the TGC method uses bacterial gene carriers to transfer DNA to animal cells, tissues or selected organs. This is done using the natural or induced organotrophic property of the gene carriers. The host genes used for genetic conditioning are cloned in special plasmids under eukaryotic control. Even large fragments of DNA can be used in the form of artificial bacterial chromosomes. Once the bacteria have died, the selected DNA is released at the host site. During application of the TGC method, DNA release is controlled, for example by suicide genes, antibiotic therapy or auxotrophic mutants of the gene carriers. Conditioning and hence the desired modification of the cell properties (respective tissues/organ) is linked with the release of DNA.
| * | "Animal Pharming: The Industrialisation of Transgenic Animals"; 1999; Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health,
Ammann and Vogel: "Transgene Nutztiere: Landwirtschaft - Gene Farming - Klonen", SAG-Studienpapier B4, 2000
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