Gene knockout makes a specific gene non-functional so researchers can investigate its phenotype. Model organisms such as mice, Drosophila, zebrafish and Arabidopsis support knockout libraries.
Knockout organisms are used as models in research. The p53 knockout mouse is named after p53, a gene which codes for a protein that normally suppresses the growth of cancerous tumours.
How could scientists use p53 knockout mice in cancer research?
To extract tumour suppressor protein from p53 knockout mice for cancer treatments
To obtain functional copies of the p53 gene to use in gene replacement therapy
To investigate the effect of new anti-cancer drugs on mouse tumours
To study the effect of mutations on the expression of the p53 gene
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