14 DAY TRIAL // Milk is recommended for its significant amount of proteins, calcium and vitamins, but scientists thought to make the most of it. A new research published in the February 2008 print edition of "The FASEB Journal" comes with a breakthrough biotechnology that could bring us therapeutic proteins with the milk.
The team at the University of Pennsylvania employed gene therapy to cut short the period necessary for animals to produce therapeutic proteins in their milk, like insulin or anticancer drugs. Currently, scientists use cloning, which involves more time and money.
"Having an easier way to harness nature's power to produce large quantities of specific proteins in milk could increase the availability of drugs for people who could otherwise not afford these treatments," said co-author Ina Dobrinski. The same method could be used to achieve animal breeds immune to diseases in several generations, fact that would boost their productivity.
For obtaining goats producing the desired proteins in their milk, the team employed radiation to kill a part of a buck's germ cells, from which sperm is produced. A transporter virus, specially engineered for this purpose, was used to attach a gene in the remaining cells. The female offspring carrying the gene synthesized milk containing the desired protein.
If this technology is perfected, it could be used in human gene therapy (assuming that ethical concerns are overcome).
"For thousands of years, people have domesticated cows and goats to make milk, butter and cheese. And for thousands of years dairy products have been used as folk remedies for practically every human illness. Most have been completely ineffective. So it is reassuring that modern science would find a way to use the milk we drink to yield of drugs that actually work," said Dr. Gerald Weissmann, editor-in-chief of "The FASEB Journal."