Question

Loss-of-function mutants in mammals are commonly studied by creating a knockout mouse model. Explain why it is impractical to use some organisms (eg., baboons) to generate knockouts. Can you think of a way to circumvent some of these obstacles?

Answer 1

Knock out or mutational studies depend on two key determinants-

1. Function of gene (Protein) is conserved throughout the living world with few exceptions. So, Hexhokinase will do the same phosphorylation of glucose from Amoeba, E.coli ,mice to humans.

2, More number of offsprings help in statistical analysis by increasing number of replicates or DATA.

Now let us come to our case-

Genome of Mice is more or less 85-90 % identical to humans and gibbon's henome is 96 % similar to humans (REMEMBER WE ARE TALKING OF FUNCTION OF A GENE which will be 100% similar as stated earlier..

Now compare space Needed for harbouring Mice and Gibbon (HUGE}

Food required for one Mice Vs One Gibbon,

1

Average Litter Size: five or six mouse pups, Vs one in case of Gibbon

Sexual maturity time period-- 6 to 8 weeks for Mice--6 to 8 years for gibbon. So a scientist will die for collecting more than 5 generational data for gibbon.

So, No scientist will try to make a knockdown for a gene and wait for around 9 years to see it's effect. Also think about ethical concern while handling Gibbon.