FDA approves genetically modified chicken - but not as food

[bananas]

Source: The Verge

Yesterday, the US government approved a genetically modified chicken. Its purpose? To make a drug in its eggs.

The drug in question is called Kanuma, reports Nature. It's the first treatment approved for people with "lysosomal acid lipase deficiency" — a rare genetic condition that prevents the body from breaking down fatty molecules inside cells. Unlike the FDA's recent approval of genetically modified salmon, these chickens and their eggs aren't approved for human consumption.

This isn't the first time that the FDA has approved a transgenic animal for drug production. Six years ago, the US government approved genetically modified goats that can make a drug in their milk that prevents blood clots. And in 2014, the FDA approved Ruconest — a drug that's collected from rabbit milk.

<snip>

Because these chickens are raised indoors, it's unlikely that these animals will accidentally end up in the food supply, the FDA says. The company that makes the drug "has taken rigorous steps to ensure that neither the chickens nor the eggs will enter the food supply," Bernadette Dunham, director of the CDC's Center for Veterinary Medicine, said in a press release. "And we have confirmed their containment systems by inspecting the manufacturing facilities."

Read more: http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/9/9879678/gmo-chicken-transgenic-fda-approved-kanuma-drug-eggs

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I'm ok with genetic engineering for medicine and research, for example last year another nail in the coffin of the serotonin theory of depression was delivered by genetically engineered mice:

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/presspacs/2014/acs-presspac-august-27-2014/new-study-throws-into-question-long-held-belief-about-depression.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACS News Service Weekly PressPac: Wed Aug 27 15:45:47 EDT 2014

New study throws into question long-held belief about depression

"Mice Genetically Depleted of Brain Serotonin Do Not display a Depression-like Behavioral Phenotype"

ACS Chemical Neuroscience

New evidence puts into doubt the long-standing belief that a deficiency in serotonin — a chemical messenger in the brain — plays a central role in depression. In the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience, scientists report that mice lacking the ability to make serotonin in their brains (and thus should have been “depressed” by conventional wisdom) did not show depression-like symptoms.

<snip>

What was recently considered established science by many is now a discredited "belief", thanks to research enabled by genetic engineering.

[Buzz Clik]

2. Ok. But that's not relevant to this story.

[LanternWaste]

9. You posting this is close to the height of irony.

You posting this is close to the height of irony.

[bananas]

5. GMO foods should be banned.

There's no need for them, and they create unnecessary ecological risks.

[cstanleytech]

8. Whew, its a good thing then that this article from the OP isnt about GMO foods then otherwise

we might have to endure some people ranting about them yet again.

[Matthew28]

3. science rocks

humans been playing with such for thousands of years. Turns out that we're better off for doing so.

[closeupready]

4. Who needs labels? What you don't know can't hurt you.

The Nobel-winning geniuses on DU tell us.

[Sunlei]

6. I hope its good conditions for the drug egg chickens. Better than the milk/urine drug animals that

have to be bred/pregnant to produce milk or the urine hormones.

Live their entire existence, an animals lifetime close restrained strapped to a collector device.

It must be a hellish 'job' to 'milk' screaming rabbits.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. ...

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. That bit about depression is really interesting.

Thanks for the post/links....

[valerief]

11. Interesting stuff about the serotonin. nt