What are the Challenges Associated with Gene Knockout?

Despite its advantages, gene knockout also presents some challenges. One of the main challenges is the potential for off-target effects, where other genes are unintentionally disrupted. This can complicate the interpretation of results. Additionally, some genes have redundant functions, meaning that other genes can compensate for the loss of the knocked-out gene, making it difficult to determine its specific role. Furthermore, creating and maintaining gene knockout models can be time-consuming and costly.