Patent ID: 6576218
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: A01K,A61K,C12N

Abstract:
A method of determining the function of a gene expressed in a mammal, comprising:(a) transplacentally delivering to a non-human mammalian embryo a synthetic oligonucleotide effective in modulating the expression of the gene by systemically administering to a pregnant non-human mammal in which the embryo is present the oligonucleotide in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the synthetic oligonucleotide comprises: (i) RNA or a combination of RNA and DNA; (ii) a stabilized backbone, comprising phophorothioate internucleotide linkages; and (iii) at least one 2â€²-O-alkyl ribonucleotide, the alkyl being a saturated alkyl; and (b) determining whether the phenotype of the embryo is altered, the altered phenotype of the embryo being indicative of the function of the gene.