Coming soon? Probably not, but this is still interesting. Scientists have used RNA interference to knock down expression of the protein beta-lactoglobulin (also known as BLG), which is one milk protein that causes allergic reactions in animals. The study is published in PNAS. Read on from Popular Science:
The team used RNA interference to inhibit the expression of certain genes that code for the production of BLG, which causes allergic reactions in people and isn’t found in human milk. They tested it on mice first, and then engineered a cow egg cell’s nucleus to express the same micro RNAs that shut down BLG. This engineered ovum was fertilized and implanted into a surrogate mother.
The team started with 57 embryos and ultimately got one healthy calf, but unexpectedly, it was born with no tail. The researchers believe this mutation is unrelated to the transgenic change, but they still need to figure out exactly what caused it.
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