Animals engineered
with pinpoint accuracy
More accurate genetic modification has created allergen-free
cow's milk and pigs that could serve as a model for atherosclerosis. Amy Maxmen
02 October 2012
I found
a very interesting article that I think you will all like and find intriguing
as I did. I also found it especially exciting to be able to read a biology
article and be able to make sense of all the terms they used. Anyways there are scientists that have worked
on creating animals which is called animal biotechnology. Which to me sounds a lot like a Frankenstein
reproduction of animals, but the reasoning behind it is quite interesting.
Researchers have been working toward blocking a secretion found in cow’s milk
that produces an allergy-inducing protein. Successfully these researchers
accurately blocked its allergy- inducing protein production using the technique
of RNA interference. Although they had attempted other methods such as,” replacing
the gene encoding beta-lactoglobulin with a defective form, but this proved
nearly impossible because the techniques available to introduce foreign genes
into animal genomes were not precise, and misplaced genes failed to express
themselves correctly,”(Maxmen). However, this did lead them to experimenting
with RNA interference. “RNA interference (RNAi) and TALENs are more accurate at
targeting the gene in question than are earlier genetic engineering techniques,”
(Maxmen). Whereas RNA interference was
useful in helping eliminate the protein. It could not get rid of the protein
entirely without the help from TALENs which speed up the process and are used to
eliminate beta-lactoglobulin. “RNAi
cannot eliminate the protein completely because some messenger RNA slips past
the blockade, but each TALEN targets a specific DNA sequence in the genome and
cuts it. As the body repairs the break, mutations are often introduced that
render the targeted gene non-functional,” (Maxmen).
So much
enthusiasm has been behind this type of research. I myself find myself stuck on
the fence feeling nervous debating if this is good thing or not. The whole reason behind animal biotechnology
was to produce healthier and safer food that would be available in large quantities
to the public that would support healthy human development. So many people
worry about what they are getting at their local grocery store, and they
should. It wasn’t too long ago that there was an outbreak of mad cow disease
which killed countless people. Never the less there have been plenty of support
and investment that have gone into this type of research to help prevent cases
like mad cow disease. And besides,” despite years of investment, almost no
animal has been approved by regulatory agencies around the world,” (Maxmen). So
how safe are these genetically made animals really? One of the researchers from
this article even admits that he hasn’t even tried one of his cow’s milk
because he isn’t allowed or permitted by New Zealand law. Furthermore this
leads me to believe that this type of animal’s development is not safe for a
reason. And if a researcher won’t even test his own product regardless of laws
or permits it indicates that this gentlemen doesn’t really back and support his
research a hundred percent.
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