[quote]CHINESE scientists have genetically modified dairy cows to produce human breast milk, and hope to be selling it in supermarkets within three years.
The milk produced by the transgenic cows is identical to the human variety, with the same immune-boosting and antibacterial qualities as breast milk, scientists at China’s Agricultural University in Beijing said.
The transgenic herd of 300 was bred by inserting human genes into cloned cow embryos which were then implanted into surrogate cows, Sky News reported.
The technology used was similar to that used to produce Dolly the sheep, the first mammal to be cloned by scientists, in Scotland.
The milk is still undergoing safety tests, but with government permission will be sold to consumers as a more nutritious dairy drink than cow’s milk.[/quote]
Sounds a little creepy but im not totally convinced it’s a bad idea. Feel sorry for normal milking cows as humans don’t really need cow’s milk to survive.
World is overpopulated but if we can feed the starving ones here already…
What’s the point of the breast milk without the breasts? How about genetically modifying their udders into a double rack of DDs? That’s the kind of genetic engineering I’d endorse.
Potentially good for Mums who would otherwise not be able to breast feed their wee bairn.
but I remain to be convinced that they have fully reproduced Mum’s tit-liquor. Antibodies don’t magically appear in human form in cow’s milk, for one example. The steps to fully recreate human milk from a cow are myriad, and they may have gone some way to recreating the fat profile of human milk, without necessarily any of the hormonal or passive immune components.
And who does the QA and the product testing? Chinese companies? Puh-lease.
[quote=“urodacus”] Antibodies don’t magically appear in human form in cow’s milk, for one example. The steps to fully recreate human milk from a cow are myriad, and they may have gone some way to recreating the fat profile of human milk, without necessarily any of the hormonal or passive immune components.
[/quote]
Exactly. Its the same reasoning behind why formula is the second choice for infants. Mothers go through life “collecting” anti-bodies as they are exposed to different pathogens from the time their babies to the time they breastfeed.
Only a Chinese would think half-assed breast milk is “identical” to human breast milk. (Note: opinion.)
But thats besides the point. The Chinese need to learn about ethics. I don’t believe a Western company would be able to get funding for such a plainly “Play God” r&d endeavor.
And its just gross too.
on that one.
