Genetic engineering and cloning may improve milk, livestock production
In the past, procedures such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer have been used in the genetic manipulation of livestock. Advances in gene and quantitative-trait mapping will enhance these traditional animal-breeding approaches to improve farm animals. By geneti...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
2000-07-01
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| Series: | California Agriculture |
| Online Access: | http://calag.ucanr.edu/archive/?article=ca.v054n04p57 |
| Summary: | In the past, procedures such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer have been
used in the genetic manipulation of livestock. Advances in gene and quantitative-trait
mapping will enhance these traditional animal-breeding approaches to improve farm
animals. By genetically engineering livestock, scientists hope to produce animals
with altered traits such as disease resistance, wool growth, body growth and milk
composition. Laboratories world wide have produced transgenic pigs, sheep, goats and
cattle, but currently the efficiency of producing the animals remains low and the
procedure is expensive. Within the next few decades, however, genetically engineered
dairy cows could become available. Cloning may also be used to duplicate animals with
traits that are difficult to capture through traditional breeding practices. By 2025,
cloning and breeding of elite animals could be carried out by companies comparable
to those that now comprise the artificial insemination industry, which selects and
breeds top dairy stock. The acceptance of genetically engineered animals by industry
will depend on its economic benefits and whether consumers are prepared to buy the
resulting products. |
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| ISSN: | 0008-0845 2160-8091 |