6/25/2008 2:33:00 PM Super science creates super cattle Report finds genetically engineered animals a benefit to public
Genetic engineering is said to hold the only promise to improve nutritional attributes of animal food products including their quantity, the quality of the whole food, and specific nutritional composition.
By Codi Vallery
Genetically engineered animals and public health may appear as an oxymoron in this article's headline, but two medical and biology professionals say that isn't necessarily the case. Scott Gottlieb, MD with the American Enterprise Institute and Matthew B. Wheeler, PhD, Institute of Genomic Biology say there is compelling evidence of benefits to health care, nutrition, the environment and animal welfare by using technology to genetically engineer animals.
The two have recently completed a study outlining those so-called benefits.
The pair says GE animals are integral to the development of new diagnostic techniques and drugs for human disease while delivering clinical and economic benefits that cannot be achieved with any other approach. They promise significant benefits in human health and food security by enabling dietary improvements through more nutritious and healthy meat and milk.
Genetic engineering is the deliberate modification of an animal's genome through technology. Legislation is keeping more than two-dozen on-going genetic engineering drug projects from consumers. Gottlieb and Wheeler comment writing, "Establishing a predictable, rigorous, science-based regulatory pathway is essential if this technology is going to be allowed to deliver practical benefits in the areas that the science of genetic engineering of agricultural animals is now enabling."
In their summary the benefits are grouped into five broad areas:
1. Genetically engineered animals will improve human health through production of novel replacement proteins, drugs, vaccines and tissues for the treatment and prevention of human disease.
2. Animals that are genetically engineered will have improved food production traits enabling them to help meet the global demand for more efficient, higher quality and lower-cost sources of food.
3. Genetically engineered animals will contribute to improving the environment and human health with the consumption of fewer resources and the production of less waste.
4. Genetic engineering offers tremendous benefit to the animal by enhancing health, well-being and animal welfare.
5. Finally, genetically engineered animals have produced high-value industrial products such as spider silk used for medical and defense purposes.
The animals in your pastures right now hold the key to human health, according to Gottlieb and Wheeler. Cattle can provide useful blood products, vaccine components like antigens for pandemic flu and replacement tissues in the form of heart valves, pancreatic islet cells and kidneys.
The 2020 Vision for Food, Agriculture, and the Environment International Food Policy Research Institute says by the year 2020 it is predicted the consumption level of animal protein by developing countries will have increased by 60 percent. The genetic engineering report makes the observation that "the only technology that will allow such improvements in diet and health will be genetic engineering of livestock and poultry that is sustainable and available consistently worldwide. Genetic engineering holds the promise to improve nutritional attributes of animal food products including their quantity, the quality of the whole food, and specific nutritional composition."
Environmental Footprint
Another debate for GE animals falls in the environmental sector. Gottlieb and Wheeler report that with the help of science, a cow can be created to produce more milk and more meat thus decreasing 1) the amount of manure, 2) the direct competition for human food, 3) the water requirement both for the animals and for facility hygiene, and 4) the land footprint required for livestock facilities.
Already the creation of the Enviro-Pig is in development. The GE pig is said to be able to reduce the amount of phosphorous excreted into the environment.
Need for Approval
The American public has consumed GE plants for over 15 years. There has not been one human health issue attributed to the planting, production and consumption of over 70 approved genetically engineered plants.
However, the framework for legislation for hydroponic tomatoes does not hold well when applied to genetically engineered animals. Two options are available according to the study. Both are based in statutory authority, and seek appropriate science-based regulatory review.
The first is the general "foods" approach. Food proteins produced by genetically engineered animals would be regulated using the food additive provision of the FDCA and (or) the process known as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) notification.
The second approach, "new animal drug" approach, would regulate animals and substances created in genetically engineered animals according to the FDCA provisions applying to new animal drugs.
"Significant opportunity costs will be levied if a specific regulatory pathway is not defined soon. While the agricultural application of this science is compelling, the medical applications are groundbreaking, and the needs for both public health and food security are urgent," writes Gottlieb and Wheeler in conclusion.
For the full report visit http://www.bio.org/foodag/animals/ge_animal_benefits.pdf
