GenScript's Knock-Out/Knock-In service addresses in vivo gene studies that prepare live animals that lack effective expression of a natural gene or contain a gene not usually found in the species
These animals are referred to as knock-out and knock-in mice, respectively, and it can take months to prepare are reliable line.
However, GenScript representatives maintain that its new Knock-Out/Knock-In service can trim this time frame to as little as two weeks, largely because of an accelerated means of acquiring targeting vectors, the constructs used to deliver the genes to live mice.
"Target generation is the first and most key step in the knock-in process", says Dr Mark Yang, the director of GenScript's Gene Department.
"Our company has established some advanced bioengineering techniques for the tailoring of DNA molecules".
"This gives us a big advantage.
"Normally, this kind of work takes months".
Because many of the genes that scientists wish to study perform important biological functions, full knockout is often lethal.
GenScript's service offerings include conditional knockout systems, which can allow researchers to deactivate or slow down gene expression at specific times or limit the slowdown to specific tissues.
These services are also called tissue-specific and developmental gene targeting, respectively.
Optional features of this service are expected to include linear targeting vectors, ultra-low-endotoxin vectors, and the accommodation of larger orders.
