Broadening Scientific Horizons - New Technique to Create Genetically Modified Chickens

Sar Dines

Honors Biology

Dr. Lyon

Period 8

Broadening Scientific Horizons

New Technique to create genetically modified Chickens

Scientists from Origen Therapeutics and the University of Oregon have announced success in their efforts to genetically engineer primordial germ cells in Chickens. Origen has been working on creating ways to produce proteins in eggs, crops, and milk as well as developing Human Antibodies. Antibodies are a protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize bacteria and viruses. The engineering of primordial germ cells in Chickens brings to light the possibility of using the same type of method to create new treatments for Human diseases, as well as increase poultry production and possibly create immunity to the avian flu. These enhancements would be the key to developing treatments and immunities that would be passed on to offspring. Origen hopes to follow up on all these leads as well as create antibody-based therapies and create a solution to Drug resistance in many diseases.

The pursuit of these possibilities presents many opportunities. First, if we can genetically create a resistance to the avian flu (Bird Flu) in chickens, then it is quite feasible that we could also use a similar method to protect us from the seemingly imminent Bird Flu epidemic. Second, antibody-based therapies are one of the most promising methods to eliminate or lessen the chances of large pandemics brought on by germs and viruses. Third, if we further developed the genetic engineering of primordial cells, then we could practically print immunity to many diseases right onto the Human genome, which would eventually spread through most of the world, ridding us of many diseases. Fourth, since a good number of our medicines are obsolete in the treatment of several diseases because of their adaptations or developments, if we could eliminate their resistance to the drugs in the first place, then that would eliminate the ever-growing fear of “Alpha Pathogens”; microbes that have developed and passed on resistance to drugs, such as penicillin, which were not administered in strong enough