World's first flu-resistant GM chickens 'created'

Professor Helen Sang: "Not only could we use this approach to tackle bird flu but other diseases"

UK scientists have created the world's first genetically modified chickens that do not spread bird flu.

Writing in Science journal, the team says their work demonstrates it is possible to create a variety of Genetically-Modified farm animals resistant to viral diseases.

The research team inserted an artificial gene into chickens; this introduces a tiny part of the bird flu virus into chicken cells.

These birds become infected but render the virus harmless to other poultry.

The team believes that the genetic modification they have introduced is harmless to the chickens and to people who might eat the birds.

Professor Helen Sang of Edinburgh University told BBC News that genetic modification is potentially a much better way of protecting against diseases than vaccination because the Genetically-Modified technique works even if the virus mutates.

"It will protect a whole flock from avian influenza infection. This is really exciting because bird flu is a real challenge to poultry production and if it were introduced to poultry breeding it would protect our large scale production flocks from avian inlfuenza," said Professor Sang.

link...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12181382

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12176373

tell me this nightmare will end soon... *they believe the gm harmless to humans* fat chance...

Stupid humans...

grz-