| abstract |
This invention relates to a genetically modified or chimeric rat cell whose genome comprises chromosomal alleles of an obesity-diabetes gene (especially, the Mc4r gene or Lep gene), wherein at least one of the two alleles contains a mutation, or the progeny of this cell. The obesity or diabetes gene may affect any of the pathways of obesity and diabetes. The obesity or diabetes gene may predispose the rat to a phenotype of obese and diabetic, lean and diabetic, obese and non-diabetic, non-obese and diabetic or any of the combinations thereof. In another aspect, the invention relates to a desired rat or a rat cell which contains a predefined, specific and desired alteration rendering the rat or rat cell predisposed to obesity or diabetes. |