NZ Scientists Get OK to Put Human Genes in Cattle

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NZ Scientists Get OK to Put Human Genes in Cattle

Tue Oct 1,10:41 AM ET

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand gave the go ahead Tuesday to begin

experiments that involve inserting human genes into cattle to produce

proteins that could be used to treat medical conditions such as multiple

sclerosis.

A committee of the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA), which

controls the introduction of new plants, animals and genetically modified

organisms into New Zealand, approved the plan despite receiving only 7 of

850 submissions supporting the proposal.

The authority placed restrictions on the experiment--the first in New

Zealand to involve genetic modification outside a laboratory--including

electronic animal tagging and a complete ban on any cow leaving the secured

site. Under the approved plan, a state research institute, AgResearch Ltd.,

plans to insert genes from goats, pigs, sheep, mice and humans into the

cattle, with the resulting genetically modified embryos transferred into

normal cows to create " transgenic calves. "

" You do the research because you don't know the answers. Although some of

the uncertainties of the research may be related to the risks, likewise some

of those uncertainties may be related to the benefits, " ERMA Chief Executive

Basil said.

If successful, the research could advance work to prevent or minimize

multiple sclerosis, a chronic, potentially debilitating disease that affects

the central nervous system, the AgResearch scientists said.

Anti-GMO lobby group GE Free New Zealand attacked the decision, saying the

risks of genetically modified organisms getting into the food chain or

crossing into other species was too great.

Genetic modification is a controversial issue in New Zealand, a nation that

markets itself as having a green, pristine environment and has an economy

heavily dependent on agricultural produce.

The recently reelected, Labor-led coalition government plans to lift a ban

on the commercial release of genetically modified organisms next year, a

stand that caused the environmentalist Green Party to refuse to join Labor

in power.