According to Wired, an
article in the November 18 issue of Current Biology details new advances
in inserting human genes into nonhuman animals. Researchers at the University
of Chicago have developed a technique to create transgenic organisms in
species as diverse as beetles, frogs and birds, with a potential to transplant
genes to many other species. Previously transgenic experiments had been
limited to fruit flies, nematodes, mice and rats.

The potential for advancing
medical knowledge is immense. Plans are already underway to use the new
technique to study diabetes, for example, as well as embryology.

Source:

Expanding
the Lab Menagerie from Wired News, November 19, 1999