Patent ID: 6252130
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: A01K,C07K,C12N

Abstract:
A method of activating a gene to be expressed in a recombinatorial substrate, comprising:providing a non-human transgenic mammal carrying a DNA molecule comprising a recombinatorial substrate, said recombinatorial substrate comprising:a promoter element capable of promoting transcription of genes in the recombinatorial substrate;a gene whose expression is to be controlled, said gene being positioned 3' to the promoter element to facilitate its transcription;a terminator positioned 3' to said promoter and 5' to said gene whose expression is to be controlled to prevent transcription of genes 3' to said terminator; anda first recombination site located 3' to said terminator and a second recombination site located 5' to said terminator, whereby treatment of said DNA molecule with a recombinase specific to the recombination sites removes said terminator from said DNA molecule, thereby activating the recombinatorial substrate and permitting transcription of said gene whose expression is to be controlled, wherein the transgenic mammal has no gene encoding a recombinase;introducing into the transgenic mammal, through its somatic cells, a gene encoding a recombinase; andexpressing said recombinase, which when expressed in the somatic cells, will promote the excision of DNA from said first recombination site to said second recombination site within the recombinatorial substrate and wherein activation of said gene whose expression is to be controlled confers a detectable and/or functional phenotype on the mammal when expressed in the somatic cells of the mammal.