Which goal best describes the use of transgenic models in biomedical research?

• A. Replace all human studies
• B. Cure every disease
• C. Elucidate gene function and model diseases
• D. Only used for agriculture

Answer: (C)

Transgenic models are used to reveal what a gene does and how changes in its function affect an organism. By turning a gene on or off, or altering its expression, scientists can observe effects on development, physiology, and disease phenotypes. This allows researchers to model human diseases in animals and study the mechanisms that drive pathology, helping to identify where a gene contributes to disease and to test potential therapies in a controlled setting. The goal isn’t to replace all human studies or promise cures for every condition, and while transgenic methods are used in agriculture as well, their biomedical value lies in elucidating gene function and modeling diseases.