| abstract |
The present invention discloses methods of screening for agents that modulate the level and/or functional activity of a pro-apoptotic protein or that modulate the level and/or functional activity of a pro-survival protein for treating or preventing degenerative disorders. Also disclosed is a genetically modified non-human animal model for use in these methods, which has a partial or complete loss of function in at least one allele of a pro-apoptotic gene, especially a bim gene, and a partial or complete loss of function in at least one allele of a pro-survival gene, especially a bcl-2 gene. |