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Genetically Eliminating BSE Prion

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Anonymous

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Removing Gene for Mad-Cow Disease May Breed Healthier Cattle

By Catherine Larkin

Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Cattle can be genetically altered to lack the protein that causes mad-cow disease without adverse health effects, a study suggests.
Scientists at Hematech Inc., a unit of Japan's Kirin Brewery Co., and the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that cows bred without the so-called prion protein were healthy at age 20 months and their tissue showed signs of resistance to mad-cow disease. The brain-wasting illness is fatal to cows and has been linked to almost 200 human deaths in the past decade.

The findings, published today on the Web site of the journal Nature Biotechnology, suggest that genetic modifications can protect cattle from mad-cow disease, potentially eradicating the threat to livestock and the people who eat them or use products made from them. James Robl, president of Hematech, said the company hopes to sell its research to agriculture or industry groups.

The technology ``alleviates the concerns about bovine products and the risk of contamination,'' Robl said in a telephone interview. ``We have an interest in licensing this technology but don't anticipate pursuing it ourselves.''

Knocking out the gene for mad-cow disease, also called bovine spongiform encephalopathy, is a ``side project'' for Hematech's efforts to develop human medicines in cows, Robl said. Kirin, Japan's largest beverage maker, announced in May 2004 that it planned to produce drugs based on human antibodies grown in cattle.

Testing in People

Robl said Hematech needed to see whether it could protect cattle from mad-cow disease before it could begin testing cow- derived medicines in people, a process he thinks may begin in the ``next several years.'' The prion protein can cause mad-cow disease, or the human variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, if it becomes folded abnormally in cells.

For this study, scientists bred a dozen prion-free bulls and then tested a sample of their tissue at age 20 months by mixing it in a lab with tissue from an animal that had died of mad-cow disease. The altered cows' tissue didn't become contaminated, while tissue from conventional cows did.

Robl said the final verdict on mad-cow immunity will come in the next year after scientists complete a study injecting contaminated tissue directly into the brains of live animals.

Interest

Gene-altering technology, if it works, may benefit farmers or biotechnology companies using bovine serum in their labs, Robl said. Several groups have already contacted Hematech about the process, though Robl declined to name any potential buyers or estimate how much the technology may sell for.

Robl said interest in breeding genetically altered cows may rise after the Food and Drug Administration said yesterday that cloned animal products appear to be safe to eat and may be allowed into the U.S. food supply as early as next year.

Hematech's technology involves a two-step process where scientists individually remove each copy of the prion protein from both parents of a cow embryo, and then clone it to produce a calf. This study was paid for the company, and the Agriculture Department helped with testing the animals for mad-cow disease.

To contact the reporter on this story: Catherine Larkin in Washington at [email protected] .

Last Updated: December 31, 2006 13:00 EST

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aROCMcTjM8_g&refer=home
 

Kathy

Well-known member
Have you signed a contract yet with Hematech. NO, of course not why would they need to sign with individual producers, when they can just own and manage their own production facilities, with hired help.

The joke is on all of us. We are going to let them genetically modify all life forms, to what end?

I see they needed to use cloning to achieve these new animals.
That means embryonic transfer into a so-called "normal" cow, in order for the cloned calf to develop. IE: the cloned animals are probably infertile, and a cloned animal is likely incapable of carrying an embryo to term? After all, the healthy prion protein is required for stem-cell maturation.

Hematech's technology involves a two-step process where scientists individually remove each copy of the prion protein from both parents of a cow embryo, and then clone it to produce a calf.

What happens to the cattle industry, especially the cow-calf guys, when the consumers and McDonalds demand this type of cloned animal?

Who will control the beef industry? Ranchers will be forced to buy their (Hematech's, or other such companies) embryos and artificially inseminate them into our regular cows, which no one will want to eat - so they will be worthless. (Well, except for growing those prion-free cloned calves).

How much money would make this a worth-while project for you? What happens after humans continue to develop so-called prion disorders (TSEs) even when they have spent their whole lives eating nothing but prion-free meat or milk? Do we start genetically modifying human embryos so that they too are prion free?

Better buy some skis.
 

Jason

Well-known member
The same scare tactics were used when A.I. was first introduced...OMG!! Bulls will become obsolete!!!.... Hasn't happened.

Then Embryo transfer was developed...OMG!! the world as we know it is ending... NOT!

These are tests. GMO foods have not been heartilly embraced and have not taken over. Round-up ready canola is losing favor in some rotations because of the costs involved.

Clones, and genetically engineered cattle will not take over. We live in the real world, not some sci fi movie. Real world economics will drive what people deem to be progress. Some things will catch on some won't.

Go back to A.I., some cattle producers don't even know how it works let alone use it. Some barely know they need a bull and a cow to produce a calf. Unless laws are enacted that control who can and can't own cattle, there is little worry that traditionally raised cattle will disappear.
 

Kathy

Well-known member
My comments are not meant to be a scare tactic.

Yes, the good old fashioned way of raising cattle will likely always be around. Unfortunately, it will likely be delegated to a hobby. Isn't it there now for a large majority. If not for off-farm incomes, many couldn't (or wouldn't) even attempt to raise cattle.

Others with excess cash are involved in the business because of its emotional and Earthly connections. Their main work is the oilpatch or some other business which pays well and allows them to have the priviledge of owning some land. You either make the land work for you... or you work so you can enjoy the land. Economics will definitely control the future. You are so right.

Oldtimer asks why so much money is spent on prion-free genetics if there isn't a problem. I don't believe in infectious proteins, but I do believe in metal contamination... be it via food, water or air. Bone meal was laiden with heavy metals and even radionuclides, this is proven by research. Even kidney tissue, and liver can contain high levels of some radionuclides according to a Univ. of Saskatchewan study.

The effects of ionizing radiation on metals attached to proteins in the body is an exciting and budding area of research which will open up doors for new treatments and "preventative" measures.

So Jason, I wonder what would happen if we got what many are asking for. If we tested every bovine for BSE, and it was discovered that the situation was much more dire than expected...in the USA too, not just Canada, where would that take the cattle industry?

As a pragmatic person, I must ask myself what is worse case scenario, so that the situation doesn't blind-side me and knock me flat. I would not be surprised to find out BSE is more prevalent than now known (especially in areas that are contaminated with radionuclides - naturally occurring or man-made).

I have not talked to a single Canadian cattleman in the last 3 years (including recent days) that is optimistic about the future of our industry. Most agree that it is bleeding to death, very slowly. One of our acquaintences even sold all his cows and has decided to give it 3 years, before he attempts to sell-off the land. If things get better, he plans to buy back in; but, if things don't improve he will sell out his land to who-ever will buy it.

I want to be optimistic but, there is such a thing as acknowledging how some changes are detrimental. The push for cloned meat and prion-free cattle might not happen overnight; but I see nothing to stop its slow progressive invasion of our industry. In my opinion, it gives the "wholesome image" of wide-open sky country-grass fed beef, a black eye. It will turn people off meat (beef first).

We are very blessed to be able to live in the country and raise our cattle and children away from war and major crime. I hope that people will shun the idea of genetic modified meat and animals. There is nothing wrong with doing things in a tried and true manner, as the cow-calf guy has done since the beginning.

The economics will dictate our future, and the rest of the worlds. The only difference between our business and some others, is we control the land (or try to). My respect for the environment is what keeps me on the land. Turning over our property to another, will likely lead to its extensive development by oil and gas companies. I want to hold that off as long as I can.

Jason, do you want to test every cow for BSE? I used to hate the idea, because it meant giving money to the corporations like the French Atomic Energy Commission who developed one of the very first BSE test kits. However, I see that only by testing every animal will the need to find the truth about TSEs become first and foremost.

If it isn't prevalent, than why put obstacles in the way of those who wish to test?
 

bse-tester

Well-known member
Kathy, you will want to read this - it is getting kinda freaky out there!! Ron.

From Hematch:

Using this sequential targeting strategy, complex genetic modifications, in large animal species, are, not only, feasible but relatively straightforward and should be useful for many applications. Multiple genes targeting in large animals may be useful for production of novel models for human disease, for production of various therapeutic proteins, for production of organs or tissues for transplantation into human patients and for improving the efficiency of agricultural production. Gene targeting has many useful applications in science, medicine and industry and may be one of the most useful applications of somatic cell cloning technology. Currently gene targeting using ES cells has only been successful in mice; however, somatic cell cloning has been successful for many species21-25. The results obtained in this study indicate that complex genetic modifications can now be readily made for a wide variety of genes in many species.

Not bad for a Brewery to have this as a side-line business huh??? Makes me want to circle the wagons and start loading ammunition to ward off the attack of the clones!!!!!! :shock: :shock: Thank God for Scotch and as for beer, not a chance of me drinking any of their stuff!!!!
 
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