Chickens Have Been Modified to Lay Eggs Containing Anti-Cancer Medicine

KRISTIN HOUSER, FUTURISM
29 JAN 2019

The eggs laid by a group of "pampered" hens in the UK contain something special in their whites.

After researchers from the University of Edinburgh spliced a human gene into the chickens' DNA, the animals began laying eggs boasting a significant amount of two proteins used to treat diseases including cancer in humans - and the process, they say, is far cheaper than current methods of protein production.

"Production from chickens can cost anywhere from 10 to 100 times less than the factories," researcher Lissa Herron told the BBC. "So hopefully we'll be looking at at least 10 times lower overall manufacturing cost."

The human body naturally produces the proteins found in the new hen eggs - IFNalpha2a and macrophage-CSF, if you're wondering - and they each play an important role in the immune system.

More:
https://www.sciencealert.com/genetically-modified-chickens-are-laying-eggs-containing-anti-cancer-drugs