Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What is the primary characteristic of transgenic animals?

1. Developing without human intervention

2. Possessing altered genes

3. Being bred in a laboratory

4. Exhibiting enhanced growth rates

The correct answer is: Possessing altered genes

Transgenic animals are primarily defined by possessing altered genes, which is the central feature that distinguishes them from non-transgenic animals. This alteration typically involves the introduction of new DNA into their genome, which can come from different species or be modified versions of their own genes. This genetic modification allows for the expression of specific traits that are not naturally found in the species, enabling researchers to study gene function, disease mechanisms, and potential treatments through living organisms. The other choices, while related to animal breeding and characteristics, do not define transgenic animals specifically. Developing without human intervention does not apply, as transgenic animals are created through deliberate genetic engineering. Being bred in a laboratory is more about the environment and doesn't capture the essence of what makes these animals transgenic. Exhibiting enhanced growth rates may occur in some transgenic animals created for that purpose, but it is not a universal trait, so it does not define all transgenic animals. Thus, possessing altered genes is the fundamental aspect that accurately describes transgenic animals.