Biotechnology in Animal Health and Production

The present publication provides a comprehensive examination of animal biotechnology and its various applications in veterinary medicine and pharmaceuticals, as well as in the improvement of animal feed production. Transgenic technologies have been utilized to enhance milk production and meat production in farm animals, as well as to establish models for human diseases. Transgenic animals are also employed for the production of proteins for medical use in humans. Biotechnology has been utilized to facilitate xenotransplantation from animals to humans. Genetic engineering has been performed on farm animals, and nuclear transfer technology has become an essential and favored method for cloning animals. Biotechnology has the potential to be utilized in the management of various animal diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, avian influenza, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The most significant biotechnology-based products comprise vaccines, particularly genetically engineered or DNA vaccines. Gene therapy for diseases in pet animals is a rapidly developing field, as many of the technologies employed in clinical trials with humans were first developed in animals, and many of the diseases in cats and dogs are similar to those in humans. RNA interference technology is now being used in research related to veterinary medicine. Molecular diagnosis is playing an increasingly significant role in veterinary practice. Polymerase chain reaction and its modifications are considered to be essential. Fluorescent in situ hybridization and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays are also widely used. Newer biochip-based technologies and biosensors are also finding their way into veterinary diagnostics. This book attempts to unravel the mysteries of biotechnology as it pertains to animal health and production.