Wednesday, September 10, 2008

GENITICALLY ENGINEERING ANIMALS


GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ANIMALS
ARS suggests curbing myostatin might be key to better cuts of beef - MeatingPlace.comA report released last week from the Agricultural Research Service unveiled genetic strategies to help promote leaner and more flavorful cuts of beef from cattle.
Fluorescent chicken to bring medical breakthrough - Hankooki NewsSouth Korean scientists have developed a technology which they claim will open the door to the mass production of biomedical materials, including a cancer-fighting enzyme, in a couple of years.
Brazil creating transgenic cow with blood thickener in milk - Channel News AsiaBrazilian researchers are developing embryos to create a transgenic cow whose milk could be used to produce drugs to treat blood disorders, scientists said Tuesday.
Japanese researchers develop novel method of introducing transgenes into animals - Medical News TodayReproductive biologists at Kyoto University have, according to this story, succeeded in producing the first animal offspring with transgenic material carried directly from sperm stem cells "infected" by a retrovirus.
Transgenic chickens help UK's Oxford Biomedica fly - ReutersA potential breakthrough in the production of protein-based drugs in the eggs of genetically modified chickens lifted shares in British biotech firm Oxford Biomedica eight percent.
Research Fuels Fear of Gene-Altered Fish - Seattle TimesIn a head-to-head battle for food, normal coho salmon lose out to their genetically engineered cousins, says a new study that adds to the controversy over what critics call "frankenfish."
Two by two…..or not? A look at transgenic animals, ethics and regulation - PewAgBiotechWhat: The Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology (PIFB) will host a policy dialogue to engage thought leaders on the ethical and regulatory issues raised by the introduction of genetically modified (GM) animals.
Scientists develop mad cow-resistant bovine embryo for medical use - The Globe and MailJapanese and U.S. scientists have genetically engineered a bovine embryo that is resistant to the deadly mad cow disease and they plan to breed several of the cows to use them to make medicines to treat human diseases, an official said Monday.
Pharmaceutical protein production in hen eggs - ISB News ReportProduction of human pharmaceutical glycosylated proteins (e.g., monoclonal antibodies) is currently constrained due to limited production capacity. Fermentation bioreactors that exploit the protein production capabilities of Pichia pastoris and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, for example, are prohibitively expensive.
Korean scientists create medicine-embedded pigs - Hankooki TimesMilk and urine of genetically engineered pigs will be sources of high-priced medicine for thrombosis, or blood clotting, which can result in a stroke or heart attack.
Cows bred to produce potential anti-tumor protein - ReutersScientists in Europe have created genetically engineered cows that produce a protein in their blood that might be used to treat human cases of melanoma.
Genetically Modified Sperm in Fish - ISB News ReportGenetically modified (GM) sperm can introduce foreign DNA into every cell in a founder individual. This avoids mosaicism that is inherent in conventional transgenic techniques, such as a microinjection of DNA into eggs, chimeras of transfected ES cells, viral infection of embryos, and sperm-mediated gene transfer into oocytes.
Push to have GM salmon approved - BBC NewsA Canadian firm developing genetically modified fish says it aims to apply for regulatory approval by the end of 2004.
Genetically modified fish could damage ecology - Purdue UniversityThe genetic modifications that improve animals for human consumption also could doom populations if released into the wild, according to a Purdue University research team.
Reaping the Biotech Harvest - Truth About TradeToday's biotechnology includes the use of genetically modified animals in medicine; in the production of special foods, human drugs, and medical devices; in the development of animal and industrial products; and in insect-based pest and disease control.
Transgenic fish pose extinction threat - UPINew evidence shows genetically modified fish released into the environment could drive wild fish populations to extinction, scientists told United Press International Tuesday.
Joint action to control release of GM animal material - Animal NetFederal officials today announced action to control a release of genetically modified animal material from TGN Biotech Inc., a Quebec research firm.
BPI seeks strategic input into research approvals - BioScience NewsBPI seeks more strategic input arising from fate of transgenic sheep.
Cow produces human growth hormone - EFEArgentina has become the first country in Latin America to develop two generations of cloned cows, which will, in turn, be capable of producing human growth hormone.
Gene-Altered Mice Create Healthful Oils - Washington PostScientists in Boston have created a line of genetically engineered mice that make their own omega-3 fatty acids -- healthful oils, typically found in fish, that mice, humans and other mammals cannot normally make on their own.
Transgenic livestock R&D offers hope for hemophiliacs - Taipai JournalGenetic engineering in Taiwan has made another stride forward in the research and development of technology that could prove highly useful in the treatment of hemophilia.
Transgenic zebrafish produced by retroviral infection of in vitro-cultured sperm - NASTransgenic modification of sperm before fertilization has distinct advantages over conventional transgenic methods. The primary advantage is that the mosaicism inherent in those other techniques is avoided.
Scientists Modify Sperm to Add New Fish to the Gene Pool - The GuardianFor the first time, US and Japanese scientists have genetically modified sperm, grown it in a laboratory dish and used it to produce a transgenic creature.
Biotechnology in the Food Chain - NOVISAnimal biotechnology applications in food production are about to take off, according to a recent report from market analyst Research and Markets. The report analyses how transgenic technologies are being used in a number of ways, such as improving milk production and the meat in farm animals.
Unlocking the Mysteries of Milk - The Globe and MailIf the latest promises of science are to be believed, the advertisements informing us that "milk does a body good" may soon have to be revised to read: "Better milk does a body even better."
New T.O. Mouse House Key to Research Rat Race - Toronto Star Newspapers It will be Canada's finest mouse house, designed to give the world a map for human health.
Milking Goats for Malaria Vaccine - BioMedNet NewsA herd of transgenic goats in Massachusetts could save millions of lives, claim the biotechnologists who developed them. Their milk contains the key ingredient of a malaria vaccine, say the researchers, and can yield up to 5 kg of this protein a year.
Fish Created to Fight Environmental Pollution Expected to be a Commercial Success - APAmerican aquariums could soon be aglow with bright red fluorescent fish, the nation's first genetically altered household pet. Soon other fish could follow, glowing under black light like the colors of a rainbow.
Food and Drug Administration Won't Regulate First Biotech Pet - APThe federal Food and Drug Administration formally announced Tuesday that it won't regulate the nation's first genetically engineered household pet, a glowing fish scheduled to debut early next month.
Reversibly-Sterile Fish Via Transgenesis - ISB News ReportSterile fish are of interest in aquaculture both to help maximise growth and, when necessary, to ensure reproductive containment. The latter aspect is now of particular interest in connection with the possible exploitation of GM fish, since growth enhanced GM salmon (Salmo salar) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) have been produced and tested.
Company Euthanizes Genetically Modified Goats - APThe chief executive of a biotechnology company said the company has euthanized 214 genetically modified goats.
Nexia Soars on News of U.S. Army Tests - ReutersShares of Nexia Biotechnologies soared more than 30 percent after the research wing of the U.S. Army found the company's Protexia protein can neutralize deadly nerve agents, according to Reuters.
Insulin From Fish a Possibility - Hindustan TimesIndian researchers have found a way to derive insulin from fish that could be used to treat diabetes.
One Fish, Two Fish, Genetically New Fish - Chicago TribuneElliot Entis has a whopper of a fish tale to tell. Now if he could only come up with an ending. Entis' story is about a salmon that has been genetically modified to grow to its full size of 8 pounds in just 18 months, half the time for a normal fish. Entis and his backers champion the fish, called the "AquAdvantage" salmon, as cheap, nutritious and environmentally friendly.
Midwest Research Looks at Cows to Produce Vaccines - APResearch to help defend against diseases that could be spread by bioterrorists is being carried out in the pastures of northwest Iowa. One company hopes to produce antibodies that can be used in humans to protect against diseases such as smallpox, botulism and anthrax.
GM Mice Spark Intellectual Property Debate - PewAgBiotechEach year, millions of mice are genetically engineered to develop tumors that precisely mimic human cancers — a technology that could lead to the swift development of new and targeted treatments, reports the LA Times.
Security Measures Taken to Protect Biotechnology - Des Moines RegisterAgricultural biotechnology endeavors in Iowa generally have not been the targets of sabotage, industry officials and university researchers said, but companies have added security in recent years.
This Chicken Could Change Your Life - Business ReportLSU researcher Richard Cooper's work could dramatically reduce the cost of pharmaceuticals-and put Baton Rouge on the biotech map.
Biotech Animals - APAccording to this story, while U.S. consumers have come to accept food from genetically engineered plants, animals are a different issue.
A Future For Transgenic Livestock - NatureThe techniques that are used to generate transgenic livestock are inefficient and expensive. This, coupled with the fact that most agriculturally relevant traits are complex and controlled by more than one gene, has restricted the use of transgenic technology. New methods for modifying the genome will underpin a resurgence of research using transgenic livestock. This will not only increase our understanding of basic biology in commercial species, but might also lead to the generation of animals that are more resistant to infectious disease.
RecA and Transgenic Livestock Production: a Method to Improve Efficiency - VA Tech ISBPronuclear microinjection was used over twenty years ago to generate the first transgenic animal and remains in use today. Since its first reported use, few improvements have been made to the technique.
GM Fish Made Quickly: Transgenic Transplant Technique Could Aid Endangered Species - NatureA new technique that speeds up the production of genetically modified fish could, according to this story, help to preserve endangered species such as Atlantic salmon and Gila trout.
Poll: Consumers Dislike Altering Animals - APConsumers generally support tinkering with plant genes so crops will produce inexpensive medicines, but they are less comfortable with the idea of modifying animals for the same purpose, a new survey says.
Transgenic Cow Programme Targets Lysosomal Disease - CheckbiotechAgResearch's transgenic cows programme will start work to produce a therapeutic protein to treat the rare lysosomal storage disease Pompe disease, as soon as issues like intellectual property are sorted out. Their decision has won praise from the patient advocacy group, Lysosomal Diseases New Zealand, but concern has already been expressed by LDNZ that continued opposition from MadGE and other anti-GE groups could add further impediments.
Researchers Hit on Raw Fish Way to Serve Vaccines - CheckbiotechA vaccination could one day come in the form of a tasty slice of sashimi.
Aqua Bounty Receives $1.68 Million NIST Award - PRNewswireAqua Bounty Technologies has been awarded a $1,680,000 grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Advanced Technology Program to develop a genetic technique that allows fish farmers to breed fish safely in captivity but prevents the same fish from reproducing if they escape into the wild.
Making a Silk Purse Out of a Goat's Milk - E4EngineeringA UK company is developing technology to spin silk like spiders' webs for industrial, medical and domestic applications.
California Would Ban Ocean Salmon Farms, Gene-Altered Fish Under Bill - San Francisco ChronicleFearing escapes of non-native fish into the wild, the state Legislature on Wednesday passed a ban against the entry of salmon farms and the raising of genetically engineered fish in California ocean waters.
Pig Genetics Development A Breed Apart From Genetically Modified Foods - Animal NetSeveral members of the British-Caribbean Chamber of Commerce Agri-Food Consortium were cited as saying in this story that there is a clear distinction between pig genetics development and genetically modified foods.
Got Antibodies?; Cows Aren't Just For Milking Anymore. They're The Latest in Anti-Terror Technology. Goats Too. - Chicago TribuneStaring sullenly at passing cars and shaking off flies, the cows at Trans Ova Genetics are indistinguishable from the thousands of others in this remote corner of northwest Iowa. But a red sign near an entrance hints that Trans Ova's cows are not exactly normal. It reads: "For Bio Security. Authorized Personnel Only."
Animal-Genetics Researchers Pouring it on - USA TodayImagine being able to buy not just whole and low-fat milk at the supermarket, but also a special heart-healthy variety with anti-carcinogenic characteristics.
Piglets Add Some Colour to Transgenic Story - Nature via CheckbiotechResearchers in Italy and Australia are to introduce 18 transgenic piglets to a meeting in California next week, in an attempt to convince sceptics that their disputed transgenic methodology does indeed work. They say that the technique could be a cheap and efficient way to produce animals expressing multiple foreign genes.
Altered Meat, Milk Waiting in The Wings - The Sacramento BeeEven if the FDA gives consent, will the public go for them? One week before he was scheduled to talk to a group of fellow scientists about the commercial potential of biotech livestock, George Seidel Jr. wasn't sure what he would conclude.
AviGenics, Inc. Announces Production of Bioactive Human Proteins Using Transgenic Chickens - PRNewswireAviGenics, Inc. today announced successful production of biologically active human interferon and human monoclonal antibodies in transgenic chickens. This significant milestone in the validation of AviGenics' transgenic chicken platform was described at the IBC Conference, "Scaling-Up from Bench to Clinic and Beyond: Advances in Bioprocessing Strategies for Successful Commercialization" in Durham, North Carolina.
Next on the Transgenic List: Production - Scientists Target Genes That Will Make Herds Healthier - Spark Plug via Animal NetSelective breeding programs create healthy herds with the best production traits. But one University of Guelph researcher thinks he can do better, by targeting specific genes and speeding up selection.
First GM Fish, Safe and Sterile - ReutersWhen the world's first genetically engineered fish, the glowing "Night Pearl", hit the market two months ago, its Taiwan developer hoped for a sea of profits.
Transgenic Sheep Slaughtered as Dolly's Creators Run Out of Money - The IndependentHundreds of genetically modified animals bred by PPL Therapeutics, the Scottish bio-technology company which helped to clone Dolly the sheep, were being culled yesterday on two farms in East Lothian and New Zealand. The operation to reduce the 6,500-strong flock also marked the end of a dream to transform medicine production and make millions of pounds in the process.
Makers of Cloned Sheep End Drug Venture - APThe British company that created Dolly the cloned sheep said it is ending a venture to make medicine from sheep's milk and laying off up to 90 percent of its workforce.
Pew Initiative/FDA Conferences on Animal Biotechnology and Cloning Suggest Regulation and Ethical Discussions Must Keep Pace With Scientific Developments - PewAgBiotechDevelopment and commercialization of transgenic and cloned animals present new challenges for regulators, and may be ahead of important public debate about ethical and animal rights issues, according to some of the nation's leading voices on these topics who spoke at two consecutive conferences on animal biotechnology and cloning sponsored last year by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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