Sperm-mediated gene transfer studies on zebrafish in Singapore

Evidence for 5S rDNA Horizontal Transfer in the toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus (Schneider, 1801) based on the analysis of three multigene families

“…It is well-known that sperm cells are able to capture exogenous DNA and to transfer it to the oocyte at fertilization [43]. This capacity has led to sperm cells being used as vectors for transferring DNA in transgenic experiments [44-46]. The frequency of sperm-exogene DNA uptake depends on several factors, such as the presence of inhibitory glycoproteins and the maintenance of optimum conditions for the DNA uptake in terms of quantity, length and primary structure of the exogene DNA [47].…”

Sperm and testis mediated DNA transfer as a means of gene therapy

“…While Brackett et al [1971] showed almost 40 years ago that rabbit sperm could take up exogenous DNA, it was not until approximately twenty years later that Lavitrano et al [1989] demonstrated that mouse epididymal sperm incubated with plasmid DNA were able to transfer this DNA to the oocyte, resulting in transgenic offspring at an apparent impressive 30% efficiency. Although initial attempts to repeat these findings, for instance by Brinster et al [1989], failed to find evidence for such gene transfer, subsequently SMGT has been demonstrated in chicken [Nakanishi and Iritani 1993], mouse [Maione et al 1998], Xenopus [Jonak 2000], zebrafish [Khoo 2000], and pig [Lavitrano et al 2002]. However, there is still controversy about the efficiency of this method, and also its mechanism of action.…”

Zebrafish in the Tropical One-North

“…[2][3][4][5] In 1995 this group of researchers became involved in the organization of a new research institute, the Institute of Molecular Agrobiology (IMA). Since the teleosts account for approximately half of all vertebrate species on this planet, we humans must take a less egocentric point of view and admit that the zebrafish is a much better representative of the vertebrates than other nonteleost model animals.…”

“…Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the early zebrafish studies at the Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) of the National University of Singapore (NUS) focused on developing methodology for zebrafish research, to improve the efficiency of transgenesis and to apply genetic analysis to morphological criteria defining viable mutations. [2][3][4][5] In 1995 this group of researchers became involved in the organization of a new research institute, the Institute of Molecular Agrobiology (IMA). One of the main aims of the IMA was to improve the quality of research in plant and animal biology in South-East Asia.…”