Production of transgenic merino sheep by microinjection of ovine metallothionein-ovine growth hormone fusion genes

Abstract

Seven transgenic Merino sheep have been produced by the technique of pronuclear microinjection. Two different Sheep Metallothionein-1a-Sheep Growth Hormone fusion genes were used. Four of the transgenic sheep, all of which contained the gene MTsGH5, did not express the transgene. The remaining three sheep carrying the second fusion gene, MTsGH9, expressed the gene at high levels in a variety of tissues and had elevated blood levels of sheep growth hormone.