Researchers genetically modify chickens to lay eggs containing anti-cancer drug

In order to fight off diseases like cancer, scientists have genetically modified chickens to lay eggs containing cancer-killing chemicals.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh have genetically engineered chicken by adding a human gene into their DNA, which led to the animals laying eggs containing a significant amount of two proteins used to treat diseases such as cancer in humans.

The two proteins found in the new chicken eggs – IFNalpha2a and macrophage-CSF – are produced by human body naturally and play a vital role in the immune system. Doctors usually use drugs containing both the proteins to treat cancers and other diseases. However producing them in lab is complex and expensive, as per Futurism.

For their study, the team inserted the gene producing the proteins in humans into the part of chickens’ DNA that handles the production of the white in its eggs. When they testes the hens’ eggs, the researchers found that three of them carried a dose-worth of the proteins.

Scientists grow disease-fighting drugs in chicken eggs

This process, as per the scientists, is way cheaper than the prevailing methods of protein production. Researcher Lissa Herron told BBC, “Production from chickens can cost anywhere from 10 to 100 times less than the factories. So hopefully, we’ll be looking at at least 10 times lower overall manufacturing cost.”

Also, Herron mentioned that these genetically modified chickens remain the same as before with no negative health affect. “As far as the chicken knows, it’s just laying a normal egg. It doesn’t affect its health in any way, it’s just chugging away, laying eggs as normal.”

Moreover, as per the study published in the journal BMC Biotechnology, the team believes that it would take between 10 and 20 years before regulatory agencies approve this for human use.

“We are not yet producing medicines for people,” researcher Helen Sang told BBC, “but this study shows that chickens are commercially viable for producing proteins suitable for drug discovery studies and other applications in biotechnology.”