Wednesday, June 17, 2015

GM cows to produce beef that make more omega-3s

Chinese scientists have successfully reared beef cattle rich in the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA - which are traditionally associated with fish oils. Scientists introduced a gene known as fat1 into fetal cells from Luxi Yellow cattle. The gene, which was isolated from a nematode worm, codes for desaturase enzymes that are involved in the conversion of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.
Writing in Biotechnology Letters, the team reveal that introducing the fat1 gene to cattle increased the levels of beneficial oils by over five times.

Steve: We are staying way away from this one until it is rigorously tested in human trials and is out on the market for several years.

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