Transgenic goats provide human milk

An upcoming Russian experimental facility could produce breast milk substitutes after a successful test on mice.

Trouble testing

Thanks to the human genes assembled into their genomes, the first transgenic mice produced lactoferrin. It is a special substance only in breast milk that protects children from germs and bacteria that cause disease while their immune systems are not yet developed.

The purpose of research by Russian scientists is similar to that of many other countries: lactoferrin extract from milk and use of this protein to formulate into formula for children fed ' sets '.

(Photos: NG)

" Rat milk is very rich in protein and it is possible to deduce the amount of transgenic protein is also very high ," writes director of Danish Benmab Biotechnology Company Patrich van Berkel.

And Dr. Elena Sadchikova, Institute of Genetic Biology, VHLKH Nga in Moscow, said: ' Breastmilk contains 4-5g lactoferrin in one liter. Milk genetically modified mice for 160g / l '. But it is not possible to turn a mouse into an animal that provides daily milk for humans. Rat milking must of course be extremely meticulous. They must be anesthetized, and use a special pump to suck milk from their tiny breast. To be able to bring it to the industrial scale, first, we have to choose large animals like rabbits, goats and cows.

Rabbit milk medicines

The rabbits grafted human genes have been milking on an industrial scale at the Pharming biological company based in the Netherlands.

Rabbit milk contains human proteins that are used to make a new genetically engineered angioedema, a rare blood disorder that can lead to swelling of the body's tissues.

Transgenic goats (Photos: NG)

" If only used as a drug, then the production (of protein) is only limited " - Sijmen de Vries, Pharming CEO said - " In order to have a large amount of lactoferin to put into a formula for infant formula, there is a great need. much more '.

De Vries predicts that if he wants to achieve a large amount of lactoferin, he will have to " join ". Developing the herd of transgenic cows to exploit their milk lactoferin, it only takes 2 to 3 years to meet the industrial scale.

However, Mrs. Sadchikova, the Russian Institute of Genetic Biology has another opinion. She is more inclined to develop genetically modified goats because it can be further shortened into the industry. She said:

" The biggest advantage of goats is that their gestation period is only half of that of cows. In addition, goats can reach milking more than 3 times faster than cows. They are less sick. and even if they are sick, their diseases are different from human diseases . "