GM cow produces allergy-free milk

ABC Science: GM cow produces allergy-free milk

New Zealand researchers have genetically engineered a cow to produce milk free of the protein that causes allergies in children.

The milk could also prove to be healthier than normal milk as it contains higher levels of the protein casein, which would result in higher calcium levels and improved cheese yields from the milk.

The development targets the 2 per cent to 3 per cent of infants in the developed world who are allergic to cows' milk proteins - used in the production of baby formulas - in the first year of life.

The researchers add that the success of their approach suggests it may also be used to alter other traits in livestock. ...

Comments

[Dana Ames]

Good grief.

This would not be a problem if children were fed human breast milk, rather than formula. There are all sorts of other advantages to human milk. Since we in the developed world have refrigeration/freezing capability, feeding human children human milk should not be difficult, even for working mothers. My premature son got my breast milk while he was still in the hospital, as soon as they would let him take anything by mouth; this was 26 years ago. Breast milk was available in the refrigerator for all of my children while I was at work.

Alternatively, my sister was allergic to milk and was born in the '60s when only hippie-earth-mamas breast-fed :-) She did just fine on soy formula until she got older and outgrew the problem.

Dana