This disclosure provides, among other things, a transgenic animal that uses gene conversion for antibody diversification comprising B cells in which the endogenous immunoglobulin heavy chain locus comprises: (a) a functional immunoglobulin heavy chain gene comprising a nucleic acid encoding a human heavy chain variable domain; and (b) a plurality of pseudogenes that are operably linked to the functional immunoglobulin heavy chain gene and that donate, by gene conversion, nucleotide sequence to the nucleic acid encoding the human heavy chain variable domain of (a), wherein the pseudogenes are upstream or downstream of the functional immunoglobulin heavy chain gene and encode variable domains that have camelizing amino acid substitutions.

A dorsal aortic injection method of chicken embryos for improving transgenic efficiency, comprising the following steps: injecting adeno-associated virus particles into the dorsal aorta of each 2.5-day-old chicken embryo outside eggshell, individually transferring the injected chicken embryos into their recipient eggshells (coming from double yolk eggs), and proceeding to hatch. The disclosure realizes the outside-eggshell injection of the chicken embryo dorsal aorta through the modified dorsal aortic injection method, improves the accuracy of injection, and also realizes the direct observation of the development process of the chicken embryos. The survival rate of embryos, hatch rate and the efficiency of transgene expression in the modified dorsal aortic injection group are significantly higher than those in the subgerminal cavity injection group and the classic dorsal aortic injection group, indicating that the modified method improves the hatch rate of transgenic chicken embryos and EGFP expression efficiency.

Described herein is a method for producing a chimeric non-human animal expressing a human NKX2-5, HANDII, TBX5 gene or a combination thereof gene comprising: a) generating a NKX2-5, HANDII, TBX5 or combination thereof null non-human animal cell, wherein both copies of the non-human NKX2-5, HANDII, TBX5 gene or combination thereof carry a mutation that prevents production of functional NKX2-5, HANDII, TBX5 protein or combination thereof in said non-human animal; b) creating a NKX2-5, HANDII, TBX5 or combination thereof null non-human blastocyst by somatic cell nuclear transfer comprising fusing a nucleus from said NKX2-5, HANDII, TBX5 or combination thereof null non-human animal cell of a) into an enucleated non-human oocyte and activating said oocyte to divide so as to form an NKX2-5, HANDII, TBX5 or combination thereof null non-human blastocyst; c) introducing human stem cells into the NKX2-5, HANDII, TBX5 or combination null non-human blastocyst of b); and d) implanting said blastocyst from c) into a pseudopregnant surrogate non-human animal to generate a chimeric non-human animal expressing human NKX2-5, HANDII, TBX5 or combination thereof.

The present invention relates to a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence that encodes the APP protein and/or the PS1 protein or variants thereof. The invention also relates to a method for inducing the Alzheimer's disease in an animal using the vector of the invention and to animal model having the Alzheimer's disease obtained by said method.

Described herein is a method for producing a chimeric non-human animal expressing a human a MYF5, MYOD, MRF4 gene or a combination thereof gene comprising: a) generating an MYF5, MYOD, MRF4 or combination thereof null non-human animal cell, wherein both copies of the non-human MYF5, MYOD, MRF4 gene or combination thereof carry a mutation that prevents production of functional MYF5, MYOD, MRF4 protein or combination thereof in said non-human animal; b) creating a MYF5, MYOD, MRF4 or combination thereof null non-human blastocyst by somatic cell nuclear transfer comprising fusing a nucleus from said MYF5, MYOD, MRF4 or combination thereof null non-human animal cell of a) into an enucleated non-human cocyte and activating said oocyte to divide so as to form an MYF5, MYOD, MRF4 or combination thereof null non-human blastocyst; c) introducing human stem cells into the MYF5, MYOD, MRF4 or combination null non-human blastocyst of b); and d) implanting said blastocyst from c) into a pseudopregnant surrogate non-human animal to generate a chimeric non-human animal expressing human MYF5 MYOD, MRF4 or combination thereof.

Factors for extending the ability of isolated pluripotent stem cells to generate extraembryonic lineages in vivo, following in vitro culture, herein, chemical extenders of pluripotency (CEP). Methods of extending the ability of a pluripotent cell to generate embryonic and extraembryonic lineages. The cell to be reprogrammed is contacted with effective amounts of the CEPs for a sufficient period of time to reprogram the cell into a chemically induced extended pluripotent cell (ciEPSC). ciEPSC are identified as an extended pluripotent cell based on properties including: (i) morphologically and (ii) functionally for example, based on their ability contribute to both TE and ICM, in vivo. The ciEPSCs can be cultured or induced to differentiate into cells of a desired type, and used in a number of applications, including but not limited to cell therapy and tissue engineering.

A mouse artificial chromosome vector is stable in rodent cells, tissues, and/or individuals, specifically a mouse artificial chromosome vector derived from a mouse chromosome selected from mouse chromosome 10 and mouse chromosome 16. A cell or a non-human animal may include the vector. The vector may be used for producing proteins and human antibodies.

The invention provides double knockout transgenic pigs (GT/CMAH-KO pigs) lacking expression of any functional GAL and CMAH. Double knockout GT/CMAH-KO transgenic organs, tissues and cells are also provided. Methods of making and using the GT/CMAH-KO pigs and tissue are also provided.

The present invention relates to transgenic ornamental fish, as well as methods of making such fish by in vitro fertilization techniques. Also disclosed are methods of establishing a population of such transgenic fish and methods of providing them to the ornamental fish industry for the purpose of marketing.

In alternative embodiments, provided are compositions, including products of manufacture and kits, and methods, for transporting nucleic acids such as oligonucleotides to and across the blood brain barrier (BBB) and into the central nervous system (CNS). In alternative embodiments, provided herein are ApoB11-comprising chimeric or synthetic peptides useful for the delivery of nucleic acids such as oligonucleotides to the CNS for the treatment, prevention or amelioration of a CNS disease, infection or condition, or for diagnostic purposes.