How is genetic engineering applied in animal microgenetics?

Genetic engineering applies directly to animal microgenetics by introducing, removing, or altering specific genes within an organism's genome. This technique allows scientists to modify the genetic makeup of animals to study gene function, disease mechanisms, or to produce desired traits. For example, by knocking out a gene, researchers can observe the resultant changes in phenotype, revealing insights into the gene's role. Similarly, adding or modifying genes can enhance desirable traits, such as disease resistance or growth rates in livestock.

This approach stands in contrast to alternatives like altering animal behavior through environmental changes, which does not involve direct manipulation of genetic material, or creating new animal species through natural selection, which relies on long-term evolutionary processes rather than targeted genetic modification. Cloning organisms, while a valuable technique in itself, focuses more on duplicating an entire organism rather than making specific genetic changes within a genome, which is the essence of genetic engineering in microgenetics.