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Chinese scientists genetically engineered 300 dairy cows to produce milk that contains nutrients found in human breast milk.
Scientists were able to do this by introducing genes that express these human milk properties to the embryos of Holstein cattle. These embryos were then implanted into surrogate cows that then produced milk containing human lysozyme and two other proteins in human milk
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Sure, I think it's a little... peculiar, but—on the other hand—the human cheese woman could probably use a little help filling orders.
Hi,

nice we in the western culture try to protect us from madness like unlimited gene engineering and both india and china, together half of earth's population do not care about limitations. So our governments will break down the limitations, because they fear to fall back in those fields of knowledge. I think gene-engineering is like the steam-technology in the 19th century. It will have massive cultural and economic influences.

Hm cows that produce human milk. It sounds horrible. But for a mother and her baby, who can't produce their own milk, it might be a relief. But wait, we have baby formula all ready.

Pro:
- Cure for canser or other dreadfull diseases come in my mind when criticizing gene engineering.
- Defeating world hunger by designing plants and animals that produce more food.
Designing and producing artificial organs that would not be rejected by its new hosts body. Eliminating the need of organ donations.
- Improving the resilience of our own bodies against enviromental dangers. Improving our fitness and health. Improving our lifetime.
- eliminating gene defects. etc
- Bacterias that feed on wastes, plastics and oil to keep our biosphere clean.

Contra
- Design, production and use of race specific biological weapons of mass destruction.
- Accidental contamination of our enviroment by dangerous specimen of gene engineering.
- New deseases caused by artificial altered bacteria.

I don't think that gene engineering is a good idea. Some things should not be touched by filthy human hands. We do not need Umbrella Corp. in reallife ;).

Have a nice day
Post edited June 09, 2011 by torqual76
They claim its genetically engineered cows but the probably just dressed up some poor women in cow costumes and faked it all.

Lets just say I'm not going to be eating beef from china...
Post edited June 09, 2011 by Aliasalpha
Wuss!
Where's your spirit of adventure??

You calmly sit there, drinking milk from another species, for your whole life, designed by nature over millennia for THAT species, but calmly eschew milk from your own species as "disgusting"?

I'd tap that. [pun!]. In a heartbeat!
I wonder how many of the people who would panic over this could even define what a gene was.
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nondeplumage: I wonder how many of the people who would panic over this could even define what a gene was.
lol

Maybe 6. On a good day :P
A friend told me recently that the most common way to induce mutations in a given (plant) species is to bombard it with radiation and hope for something useful. Apparently genetic engineering is considerably cheaper, and obviously safer as the target area is much smaller. Don't take my word on it, though.
Post edited June 09, 2011 by Whitecroc
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Whitecroc: A friend told me recently that the most common way to induce mutations in a given (plant) species is to bombard it with radiation and hope for something useful.
....is there like a link or something for that? It's hard to imagine trying to induce some kind of positive change through cell mutation and death, whereas botanists have been inducing mutations through breeding plants since forever. I mean, breeding peas for specific things is how we got the field of genetics in the first place.
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Whitecroc: A friend told me recently that the most common way to induce mutations in a given (plant) species is to bombard it with radiation and hope for something useful.
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nondeplumage: ....is there like a link or something for that? It's hard to imagine trying to induce some kind of positive change through cell mutation and death, whereas botanists have been inducing mutations through breeding plants since forever. I mean, breeding peas for specific things is how we got the field of genetics in the first place.
As I said, don't take my word for it. I'm trying to find a link or three, but it's difficult to pick the correct search terms as radiation and genetic modification are very popular topics to get hyped up about. I did find a single sentence on Wikipedia, but unfortunately it was unsourced and contained no information on historical use.
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Lone3wolf: You calmly sit there, drinking milk from another species, for your whole life, designed by nature over millennia for THAT species, but calmly eschew milk from your own species as "disgusting"?
Call me old fashioned, but drinking human milk from a cow still creeps me out.
Post edited June 09, 2011 by WBGhiro
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Whitecroc: As I said, don't take my word for it. I'm trying to find a link or three, but it's difficult to pick the correct search terms as radiation and genetic modification are very popular topics to get hyped up about. I did find a single sentence on Wikipedia, but unfortunately it was unsourced and contained no information on historical use.
Your best bet would be to look at the Nature.com archives. Maybe a medicinal publication, too.
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Whitecroc: As I said, don't take my word for it.
I was just wondering if your friend told you by pointing out a site or something. Never shoot the messenger, right? ; )
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Whitecroc: As I said, don't take my word for it.
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nondeplumage: I was just wondering if your friend told you by pointing out a site or something. Never shoot the messenger, right? ; )
He might mean that mutations most commonly come from radiation, and that might be more accurate. I heard that some scientist got really fucked up with gamma radiation, but he disappeared off the map after DHS was created.
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lukipela: He might mean that mutations most commonly come from radiation, and that might be more accurate. I heard that some scientist got really fucked up with gamma radiation, but he disappeared off the map after DHS was created.
I wonder if he's hanging out with that guy who disappeared into the swamp after his lab caught fire.
Who did the taste test? Is there some kind of breast milk connoisseur with years of experience and an appreciation for the best vintages?