Genetically modified chicken are able to lay eggs which contain drugs for arthritis and some cancer diseases.
Scientists have previously shown that drugs are 10 to 100 times cheaper when laid than to manufacture in industries.
Many diseases are caused when the human body stops naturally producing a certain protein or chemical. drugs which contain the deficient protein can be used to control these diseases. Some pharmaceutical companies produce these drugs, but they cost too much to synthesize these drugs. Scientists have already made researches on to produce proteins from genetically modified animals like goat, rabbits, and chickens that contains vital proteins in their milk or eggs.
Many diseases are caused when the human body stops naturally producing a certain protein or chemical. drugs which contain the deficient protein can be used to control these diseases. Some pharmaceutical companies produce these drugs, but they cost too much to synthesize these drugs. Scientists have already made researches on to produce proteins from genetically modified animals like goat, rabbits, and chickens that contains vital proteins in their milk or eggs.
The researchers believe that with the passage of time such production can be grown up to commercialize scale.
Similar research was made by Dr. Herron and her team to reduce the cost of expensive drugs. They inserted the human gene which is responsible for producing proteins, into chicken DNA.
According to Dr. Herron
chickens don’t suffer and are pampered compared to farm animals. They are kept in large enough pens. They are fed, watered and look after regularly by highly trained technicians.
"As far as the chicken concerns, it just lay a normal egg. Its health is not get affected by this modification. It's just eating and drinking normal, laying eggs as normal," says Dr.Herron
"producing anti diseases drugs in this way costs from 10 to 100 times less than the factories. So hopefully we'll be trying to reduce its cost, at least 10 times lower overall manufacturing cost" said Dr. Herron.
After cracking the eggs and separating the portion white from the yolk, Dr. Herron discovered that chicken contains large numbers of proteins.
They mainly focused on two proteins that are vital for the immune system. First IFNalpha2a, which has antiviral and anti-cancer effects. Second, macrophage-CSF which is being used as therapy to stimulate the damaged tissues to repair themselves.
Three eggs are enough to have a dose of the drug. one chicken can lay up to 300 eggs per year. With enough chickens, these eggs can be produced commercially.
The researchers also found that these eggs include drugs which can boost the immune system of farm animals, an alternative to antibiotics, which would reduce the risk of the development of new strains of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Macrophage-CSF’s healing properties can be used to treat pets.
Professor Helen Sang, of the University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute, said: "We are not yet producing medicines for people, but this study shows that chickens are commercially viable for producing proteins suitable for drug discovery studies and other applications in biotechnology."
The eggs are produced only for research purposes and are not available commercially in supermarkets
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