Animal biotechnology is a branch of biotechnology in which molecular biology techniques are used to genetically engineer (i.e. modify the genome of) animals in order to improve their suitability for agriculture, industrial, or pharmaceutical applications.
Animal biotechnology has been used to produce genetically modified animals that synthesize therapeutic proteins, have improved growth rates or are resistant to disease.
Advances in animal biotechnology have been facilitated by recent progress in sequencing animal genomes, gene expression and metabolic profiling of animal cells. More recently, genome editing technologies (Zinc Finger Nucleases, TALENS, and CRISPR-Cas systems) have opened up new opportunities to easily create genetic variations in animals that can improve their health and well-being, agricultural production, and protection against diseases.
Competitive Funding Programs in Animal Biotechnology
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program
Biotechnology Risk assessment Grants (BRAG) program
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program