Since the 1990s, mammalian genetics has been dominated by the use of genetically engineered mice, facilitated by embryonic stem (ES) cell-based gene targeting. These mice have enabled in vivo analysis of gene functions and have significantly advanced genetic research. However, to fully understand complex biological phenomena, it is important to conduct comparative studies using a diverse array of animal species. Recently, the emergence of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing technologies has accelerated targeted gene modification beyond rodents to include a wide range of animal species previously inaccessible through ES cells and traditional gene targeting approaches.

In this talk, I will focus on two new animals, the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica), a marsupial, and the Madagascar ground gecko (Paroedura picta), a reptile, and introduce our recent successful developments in the generation of genetically modified animals by genome editing.

References

1. A reverse genetic approach in geckos with the CRISPR/Cas9 system by oocyte microinjection. (2023) Abe T, Kaneko M, Kiyonari H*. Dev Biol. 497:26-32
2. Targeted gene disruption in a marsupial, Monodelphis domestica, by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. (2021) Kiyonari H*, Kaneko M, Abe T, Shiraishi A, Yoshimi R, Inoue K, Furuta Y. Curr Biol. 31(17):3956-3963