Interviewee: Mario Capecchi.
Mario Capecchi talks about manipulating embryonic stem (ES) cells to make specific mutations in mouse embryos.
(DNAi Location: Applications > Genes and medicine > Gene targeting > Mario Capecchi > Gene targeting)
Transcript:
This is a plate of ES cells and they're growing on the surface and under the microscope we can see them. And it's these cells that we actually manipulate, that is which manipulate their genome and make specific mutations using a technique called gene targeting, which allows us to modify a particular gene. And once we've done that, then we can take these cells and then introduce them back into an early embryo of a mouse, which is called the blastocyst, re-implant that into the uterus and that then grows into a mouse and then that gene that we modified in these cells will then be modified in every cell of the embryo.
Mario Capecchi talks about the possible use of embryonic stem cells and gene targeting techniques to develop new therapies for for diabetes and Parkinson's.