No thank you, GM cows...

It was reported late yesterday evening that researchers at the State Key Laboratories for AgroBiotechnology in China's Agricultural University has successfully introduced human genes into a herd of cows in order for them to produce milk similar to that of human breast milk (see The Telegraph). This latest advancement in GM research is to enhance the presence of key nutrients, missing or found as a low level in cows milk, that are vital to a baby's health and development. At present, three types of genes have been incorporated by microinjection of the modified genetic material into bovine somatic ('body') cells. The nuclei of these cells were then transferred into donor cells, from which transgenic bovine embryos were created and the resulting cows could express lactoferrin, lysozyme and Alpha-lactalbumin in their milk. The observed high yields from these "mammary bioreactors" is seen as a positive step towards the industrial scale production of GM milk.

The process of creating clones by somatic nuclear transfer (taken from de: Quelle: Zeichner: Schorschski / Dr. Jürgen Groth)







However, these findings will also alarm and outrage those who are against the use of GM for food production. There is the obvious safety issue of consuming products that have been unnaturally enhanced and of which the short and long-term effects of consumption are unknown. There is also the concern for the welfare of the animal, since the previously created Dolly the Sheep - although deemed a healthy clone - had an unusually short life-span and suffered health problems.

In the UK, the concept of GM food has had so much bad press that supermarkets go to great lengths to stress that the food they sell are GM free. Furthermore, the use of breast milk for commercial purposes has already caused quite a stir - the recent offering of "Baby Gaga" - breast milk ice cream made from donations of a lactating mother - has invoked mixed feelings ranging from curiosity to disgust (see BBC News).

The question that weighs heavy on my mind is this - why is it that these cows are required when a human mother is quite perfectly able to feed her own child? For argument's sake, there are those mothers who are unable to feed their baby, such as those with a medical condition or are taking/addicted to substances that could risk harm to the baby. However, cannot a human lactating mother donate milk for this purpose? In the case of the ice cream, there were a number of mothers who expressed an interest in offering their milk for financial gain. Cannot healthcare companies/the government pay these ladies to help fellow mothers in need?

In the commercial sense I suspect that when the time comes, the marketing ploy to convince western mothers to use GM milk will be largely based on cosmetics. The perceived unattractiveness of "saggy boobs" as a result of 6 or so months of breastfeeding per baby could be totally avoided by the use of an alternative and equally nutritious source. If that is the case, vanity has reached new heights.

In conclusion, my personal opinion is this - Mothers and women of the UK should unite, burn those bras and chain themselves to the gates of parliament in protest. Not only is breastfeeding a way to feed a child it is also crucial for the bonding between mother and baby; the first step towards building a relationship that is positive, unique and special. Scientific commercialism, vanity and social pressure should not be allowed to undermine its importance. No thank you, GM cows.

Story: The Telegraph

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