The quest to find a solution for bird flu (which doesn’t include updating the current inefficient and cruel system of large-scale factory farming) has resulted in a team of UK scientists creating the world’s first genetically modified chicken incapable of spreading the bird flu.
The GM fowl came about after scientists at Edinburgh University and the University of Cambridge inserted an artificially created gene with the bird flu virus into the chickens. The result was birds that are infected with the virus but incapable of infecting other hens.
The scientific research and findings, recently published in Britain’s Science journal, explains that the scientists believe they can create an entire range of genetically engineered farm animals that are resistant to a range of viral diseases.
Reducing meat and poultry consumption coupled with organic animal husbandry that does not incorporate antibiotic and other chemical use, while providing enough space for normal behaviours, seems like a better long term approach rather than genetically modifying animals to fit into unnatural and cruel conditions at large-scale factory farms.
Via BBCNews
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written by Ms Norma , January 19, 2011