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About Dana Krempels, Ph.D.
Expertise
I can answer biology-related questions in the areas of evolution, zoology, botany, genetics, and ecology. But I don't answer homework questions or provide ideas for your science fair projects. So students please do your learning the right way by reading your text assignments and studying!

Experience
At the University of Miami, I teach Evolution and Biodiversity, Botany, Zoology, Genetics, Ecology, and a variety of seminars (e.g., the Biology and Evolution of Human Gender Roles).

Education/Credentials
I have a B.S. in Biology and an A.B. in English from the University of Southern California (1980). I earned my Ph.D. in Biology in the area of evolutionary biology/visual physiology from the University of Miami in 1989.

Past/Present Clients
I am currently an "expert" in both the "Rabbits" and "Wild Animals" categories.

You are here: Experts > Science > Biology > Biology > Viable offspring from transgenic organisms

Biology - Viable offspring from transgenic organisms

Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 10/31/2009

Question
I would like to ask whether transgenic organisms (plants or animals) created in the lab usually produce fertile offspring.
For example, when a horse mates with a donkey, the resulting animal (mule) is infertile. Is it the same with transgenic organisms?

Answer
Dear Lita,

Most transgenic organisms created in the laboratory are perfectly capable of reproducing. The insertion of genetic material from another species does not interfere with normal meiosis (production of sex cells) in most cases. And in many cases (e.g., chimeric lab mice), it is absolutely *essential* that transgenic animals reproduce, as it is their offspring that will yield the most relevant information about gene function.

Hybrid animals produced by the mating of two closely related species are often infertile because the two parents pass on chromosome sets (one set from each parent) that contain the right genes for making an animal, but the chromosome sets themselves are not compatible with each other when it comes time to undergo meiosis and make sex cells. (This is more complicated than can be explained in a single email, but if you're interested in learning more, I can point you to my genetics course notes where this is discussed.)

Hope this helps.

Dana

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