Abstract: An application of omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acid(s) for the therapeutic treatment of the human or animal body in the case of an impaired sphingolipid metabolism, in particular in the case of impaired sphingolipid synthesis and/or excessive sphingolipid degradation. The agent is applied in the case of missing, reduced and/or defective formation of a sphingomyelin synthase enzyme in the body, in particular the enzyme sphingomyelin synthase 1 or the enzyme sphingomyelin synthase 2. The application has proved to be useful in the case of a defect of the sphingomyelin synthase 1 gene or of the sphingomyelin synthase 2 gene. The omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acid(s) preferably comprise(s) polyunsaturated omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acid(s), preferably EPA, DHA, DPA, ETA, 21:5n3 and/or SDA. A method for determining a cause of a disease in an animal or a human being and a device for carrying out the method are also provided.

Abstract: An application of omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acid(s) for the therapeutic treatment of the human or animal body in the case of an impaired sphingolipid metabolism, in particular in the case of impaired sphingolipid synthesis and/or excessive sphingolipid degradation. The agent is applied in the case of missing, reduced and/or defective formation of a sphingomyelin synthase enzyme in the body, in particular the enzyme sphingomyelin synthase 1 or the enzyme sphingomyelin synthase 2. The application has proved to be useful in the case of a defect of the sphingomyelin synthase 1 gene or of the sphingomyelin synthase 2 gene. The omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acid(s) preferably comprise(s) polyunsaturated omega-3 and/or omega-6 fatty acid(s), preferably EPA, DHA, DPA, ETA, 21:5n3 and/or SDA. A method for determining a cause of a disease in an animal or a human being and a device for carrying out the method are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a cell comprising a conditionally active transgene in its genome, the method comprising (a) introducing into the cell a targeting vector, wherein the targeting vector comprises (i) a 5? recombinase recognition site specifically recognised by a first recombinase, wherein the first recombinase is endogenously present in the cell or wherein the first recombinase or a nucleic acid molecule encoding said first recombinase in expressible form is introduced into the cell; followed by (ii) a 5? recombinase recognition site specifically recognised by a second recombinase, wherein the second recombinase is not endogenously present or is not active in the cell; followed by (iii) a selection cassette comprising a positively selectable marker gene; followed by (iv) a 3? recombinase recognition site specifically recognised by a third recombinase, wherein the third recombinase is not endogenously present or is not active in the cell; followed by (v) the transgene; follo

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a cell comprising a conditionally active transgene in its genome, the method comprising (a) introducing into the cell a targeting vector, wherein the targeting vector comprises (i) a 5? recombinase recognition site specifically recognised by a first recombinase, wherein the first recombinase is endogenously present in the cell or wherein the first recombinase or a nucleic acid molecule encoding said first recombinase in expressible form is introduced into the cell; followed by (ii) a 5? recombinase recognition site specifically recognised by a second recombinase, wherein the second recombinase is not endogenously present or is not active in the cell; followed by (iii) a selection cassette comprising a positively selectable marker gene; followed by (iv) a 3? recombinase recognition site specifically recognised by a third recombinase, wherein the third recombinase is not endogenously present or is not active in the cell; followed by (v) the transgene; follo

Abstract: A new type of gene trap cassette, which can induce conditional mutations, relies on directional site-specific recombination systems, which can repair and re-induce gene trap mutations when activated in succession. After the gene trap cassettes are inserted into the genome of the target organism, mutations can be activated at a particular time and place in somatic cells. The gene trap cassettes also create multipurpose alleles amendable to a wide range of post-insertional modifications. Such gene trap cassettes can be used to mutationally inactivate all cellular genes temporally and/or spatially. Cells which contain the inventive gene trap cassette can be used for identification and/or isolation of genes and for the creation of transgenic organisms to study gene function at various developmental stages, including the adult, as well as for the creation of animal models of human disease useful for in vivo drug target validation.