Agresearch transgenic cows. Regulating transgenic cow research — Science Learning Hub 2022-10-12

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Agricultural biotechnology has made significant strides in recent decades, and one area of research that has garnered particular attention is the creation of transgenic animals. Transgenic animals are those that have been genetically modified to express specific traits or characteristics that are not naturally found in their species. In the case of cows, transgenic cows have been developed for a variety of purposes, including the production of pharmaceuticals and the improvement of milk and meat quality.

One of the primary goals of transgenic cow research is to improve the efficiency of milk and meat production. Cows are important sources of both milk and meat for many people around the world, and the demand for these products is expected to continue to rise in the coming years. By introducing specific genes into cows, researchers hope to create animals that are more resistant to diseases, have higher milk yields, and produce meat with improved characteristics such as taste and tenderness.

One example of transgenic cow research that has received significant attention is the development of cows that can produce milk with increased levels of lactoferrin. Lactoferrin is a protein found in milk that has been shown to have a variety of health benefits, including the ability to boost the immune system and improve the absorption of iron in the body. By genetically modifying cows to produce higher levels of lactoferrin, researchers hope to create a milk that is even more nutritious and beneficial to human health.

Another area of transgenic cow research involves the production of pharmaceuticals. Cows have been used for many years to produce proteins and other substances that are used in the production of pharmaceuticals. By introducing specific genes into cows, researchers can create animals that can produce large quantities of specific proteins or other substances that are used in the production of drugs. For example, transgenic cows have been developed that can produce human proteins such as insulin and growth hormone. These proteins can be extracted from the milk of transgenic cows and used to treat a variety of medical conditions.

There are also ongoing efforts to use transgenic cows to produce biofuels. By introducing specific genes into cows, researchers hope to create animals that can produce milk with higher levels of fatty acids, which can be converted into biofuels. This would provide a renewable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuels.

Overall, transgenic cow research has the potential to make significant contributions to the fields of agriculture and medicine. By creating animals with specific traits or characteristics, researchers hope to improve the efficiency of milk and meat production, produce more nutritious milk, and create new sources of pharmaceuticals and biofuels. However, as with any new technology, there are also concerns about the potential risks and unintended consequences of transgenic animals. It is important for researchers to carefully consider these issues as they continue to explore the potential of transgenic cows and other transgenic animals.

Transgenic cow research at AgResearch Liz Carpenter Dairy Biotechnology

agresearch transgenic cows

The HSNO Act is overseen by the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency. The findings cast a shadow over the process for government research funding and ethical oversight of GE animal experiments. Now, however, if the desired gene sequence is known, it can simply be synthesised in a lab. First, the gene for the desired product is identified and sequenced. Therefore the product is GM free. Selecting for transgene positive cells After transfection, an antibiotic is added to select the bovine cells that have incorporated the gene construct.

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Techniques used to make transgenic cows — Science Learning Hub

agresearch transgenic cows

Therefore the cows are GM free. Researchers use ear tags and microchips to identify transgenic cows and their calves. There is no DNA in the oil from GM conola plants. Treatment with human myelin basic protein may help reduce the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Omission and selective reporting of important experimental data to the media has enabled AgResearch to avoid scrutiny into the tragic results of using animals as bioreactors.

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Transgenic cows making modified milk — Science Learning Hub

agresearch transgenic cows

All genetic engineering is bad Insulin produced by GM bacteria saves lives My mother is a diabetic. Scientists producing transgenic cows use a range of techniques including DNA cloning, restriction enzyme digests, ligation, polymerase chain reaction PCR , transfection, nuclear transfer and in vitro embryo production. A vector is a small piece of DNA, often a plasmid, into which a foreign piece of DNA can be inserted. Each variant has its own amino acid composition, genetic variations and functional properties. Can you ring two people for me? I can't afford to buy insulin so now I am blind.

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Transgenic cows make more casein

agresearch transgenic cows

Regulating transgenic cow research New Zealand has very strict regulations for working with transgenic animals. Clinical trials on transgenic proteins have resulted in allergic reactions in subjects causing the trials to be terminated early. This lessens their need for dietary supplements and reduces environmental pollution. Micelles are dispersed in the water phase of milk and give milk its white colour. The group said it got the details through Official Information Act requests to AgResearch and from the Crown institute's own reports. These transgenic pigs have an additional gene that helps them digest plant material. Cows which eat GM plants break down the DNA in the gut.


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Transgenic cow research branded a “disaster”

agresearch transgenic cows

ATryn®, a human antithrombin protein, is made in transgenic goats. In the course of fifteen years of experimentation, many thousands of transgenic embryos, predominately developed offshore in private partnership laboratories, have been used. New Zealand consumers are wary of the use of transgenic technologies in either animals or plants for food production, though they tend to be more accepting of these technologies when they produce therapeutic proteins for treatment of disease. There is no DNA in the oil from GM conola plants. Casein is particularly important in cheese making.


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Transgenic cows making therapeutic proteins — Science Learning Hub

agresearch transgenic cows

In its 2017 report to the EPA, AgResearch noted that it still has around 40 transgenic cows in its Waikato containment facility. Labelling is too difficult for bulk products The cost of keeping GM products separate outweighs any commercial gain I will have an allergic reaction to food with any traces of peanut. This article has more information on After the gene is cut from the vector, it is then pasted into the multiple cloning site of the gene construct using a method known as ligation. What is the science involved? Currently, research groups around the world are investigating whether transgenic animals such as goats, cattle, pigs, rabbits and chickens can be used to produce therapeutic proteins. Future of transgenic cow research AgResearch applied to continue its transgenic cow research programme in November 2009 and the application was approved in 2010.

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Regulating transgenic cow research — Science Learning Hub

agresearch transgenic cows

Then a gene construct containing this desired gene is created using DNA cloning, restriction enzyme digests and ligation. Dr Wells said the work was cleared ahead of time by an ethics committee, but that they were moving away from cloning and so would hopefully have a smaller margin of error. Scientists at AgResearch must apply for approval to work with transgenic animals. Disposing of waste on the farm All waste materials from the transgenic cow facility must be disposed of on site. Most of these cows are for casein and beta-lactoglobulin BLG research. Intrinsic issues - issues of rights, responsibilitiesInclude religious, spiritual, cultural beliefs The morality continuum: where do you stand? All genetic engineering is badInsulin produced by GM bacteria saves lives My mother is a diabetic.

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Transgenic cows

agresearch transgenic cows

Designing the gene construct The first step is to design a gene construct. The future direction of transgenic research will be influenced by ongoing discussion and evaluation of ethical and societal issues that are raised. Slide 41 The morality continuum: where do you stand? When the gene of interest is in a vector, it can be sent from one lab to another, it can be stored, it can be manipulated or it can be used to transform bacteria to produce more copies of the gene of interest. Uses of transgenic cows There are many potential uses of transgenic cows in biomedicine and agriculture. Making therapeutic proteins Therapeutic proteins are usually synthesised in cell-based systems.

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Future uses of transgenic cows — Science Learning Hub

agresearch transgenic cows

Labelling is too difficult for bulk productsThe cost of keeping GM products separate outweighs any commercial gainI will have an allergic reaction to food with any traces of peanut. Cows with modified milk This research was the first proof that transgenic technology could be used to modify milk composition in cows. She would die if she relied on pig insulin because it makes her sick. GE Free New Zealand has released a report covering 15 years of AgResearch trials using 60 cows bred to express certain transgenic proteins, including a human protein, in their milk. While the breakthrough was widely celebrated, there was concern that the milk came from a single genetically-engineered dairy calf named Daisy.

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Transgenic cows

agresearch transgenic cows

What is the risk? Confirming the cow is transgenic If the embryo develops to full term, after 9 months, the cow will give birth to a calf. Transgenic cows with extra casein The milk from casein transgenic cows contained double the levels of kappa casein than milk from control cows. There are companies that make genes to order within a couple of weeks. Transfecting bovine cells The gene construct is incorporated into the genome of a bovine cow cell using a technique called transfection. Find out more about casein in this article Improving animal health Transgenic technologies could be used to improve animal health by increasing resistance to diseases. Rights: Image licensed through 123RF. Teaching ideas Explore the ethics of generating transgenic animals.

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