ANDi facts for kids
ANDi was the first genetically modified rhesus monkey. He was born at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) on October 1, 2001. OHSU named the monkey ANDi because it stands for iDNA spelled backward.
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How ANDi Was Born
ANDi was born with an extra gene that came from a jellyfish. This gene is called green fluorescent protein (GFP). It was added to ANDi's DNA sequence, which is like his body's instruction manual. Scientists chose rhesus monkeys for this work because their genes are very similar to human genes. About 95% of their genes are the same as ours.
How Scientists Modified ANDi's Genes
Creating ANDi was a very detailed process. Scientists started with 224 monkey eggs. They injected a special protein into these eggs. About 75% of the eggs (166 of them) were successfully fertilized.
From these fertilized eggs, 126 developed into early embryos. Scientists then placed 40 of these embryos into 20 female monkeys, with each monkey receiving two embryos. Five of these monkeys became pregnant. In the end, three baby monkeys were born alive. Out of these three, only one, ANDi, carried the new gene.
The lead scientist, Gerald Schatten, hoped this new method would become a very important tool. He believed it could help scientists find new ways to treat human diseases.
Why ANDi Was Important for Science
Being able to genetically modify a monkey like ANDi was a big step forward in science. Scientists hoped that ANDi's creation would help them find cures for difficult human diseases, such as cancer.
Since ANDi was born, scientists have continued to explore genetic changes. They want to make changes that could help them study diseases like breast cancer or HIV more closely in primates. Scientists also hope to learn more about and find cures for other serious conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, AIDS, and diabetes, by using similar genetic methods.
Even though ANDi carries the special gene, he does not actually glow. The gene is present, but it doesn't seem to work in a way that makes him light up.
See also
In Spanish: ANDi para niños
- List of individual monkeys
- Tetra (monkey)
