Universal markers of transgenesis

Abstract

The invention relates to methods, cells and nucleic acids for making transgenic animals. The methods generally comprise introducing into a genome of an animal a genetic construct comprising a transcriptional regulatory element operably linked to a heterologous marker gene encoding a marker, wherein the element drives expression of the marker across genera transgenic in the construct sufficient to visually detect the marker in photoreceptive cells or organs, and selecting for transgenesis by visually detecting the marker in a photoreceptive cell or organ of the animal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of making a transgenic animal comprising the steps of: 
 (a) introducing into a genome of an animal a genetic construct comprising a transcriptional regulatory element operably linked to a heterologous marker gene encoding a marker, wherein the element drives expression of the marker across genera transgenic in the construct sufficient to visually detect the marker in photoreceptive cells or organs, and (b) selecting for transgenesis by visually detecting the marker in a photoreceptive cell or organ of the animal.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the construct comprises a transposon.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the construct comprises a polytropic transposon.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the construct comprises a retrovirus.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the construct comprises a polytropic retrovirus.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the construct comprises first and second regions homologous to corresponding portions of the genome and the introducing step comprises homologously recombining the construct with the genome.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the introducing step comprises non homologously recombining the construct with the genome.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the element comprises a binding site selected from a Pax-6 binding site and a Glass binding site.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the element comprises a Pax-6 binding site.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the element comprises a plurality of Pax-6 binding sites.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the element comprises a plurality of Pax-6 binding sites and said Pax-6 binding sites are P3 sites.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the element comprises a plurality of Pax-6 binding sites and said Pax-6 binding sites are Paired Domain binding sites.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the element comprises a plurality of Pax-6 binding sites and said Pax-6 binding sites comprise twin-of-eyeless (TOY) binding sites.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the element comprises a plurality of Pax-6 binding sites, and said plurality is from 3 to 9.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the marker is a fluorescent protein.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the marker is a fluorescent protein and said fluorescent protein is a green fluorescent protein.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the genera include non-arthropod invertebrates.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the genera include at least one non-insect arthropod selected from crustacea and chelicerata.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the genera include non-dipteran insects.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the genera include at least one of mammals, fish and birds.  
     
     
         21 . A nonhuman transgenic animal made by the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         22 . A polytropic vector functional in nondipteran species and comprising a transcriptional regulatory element operably linked to a heterologous marker gene encoding a marker, wherein the element drives expression of the marker across genera transgenic in the construct sufficient to visually detect the marker in photoreceptive cells or organs.  
     
     
         23 . A vector according to  claim 22 , wherein the marker is the only visually detectable indicator of transgenesis encoded by the vector.  
     
     
         24 . A cell stably transformed with a vector according to  claim 22 , or a progeny of said cell.  
     
     
         25 . A nonhuman animal stably transformed with a vector according to  claim 22 , or a progeny of said animal.