Gene knockout

A gene knockout is a genetically engineered organism that carries one or more genes in its chromosomes that has been made inoperative. So far such organisms have been engineered chiefly for research purposes. Also known as knockout organisms or simply knockouts, their most direct use is for learning about a gene that has been sequenced, but has an unknown or incompletely known function. Researchers draw inferences from how the knockout differs from individuals in which the gene of interest has not been made inoperative. Knockout is also the process of creating such an organism, as in "knocking out a gene."

Related Topics:
Genetically engineered - Organism - Gene - Chromosome - Sequenced

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