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Scientists in Brazil have engineered a cow to produce human insulin in its milk, making history as the world’s first transgenic cow capable of such a feat. Though still a long way off, the researchers hope that this bovine breakthrough could open doors for sustainable insulin production and help tackle the world's insulin supply problems. For now, the achievement is just a proof-of-concept – but with additional testing and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, it could be scaled up to rival current insulin production methods, which involve genetically modified yeast and bacteria. "Mother Nature designed the mammary gland as...

A new study reveals that genetic manipulation of mice, rats, cows and pigs has increased threefold since 2004. Between 2004 and 2013, the number of tests conducted using genetically modified animals in Germany nearly tripled, according to reports by Funke Mediengruppe, citing a study by research group Testbiotech, which investigates the “consequences of genetic engineering”. In total nearly 950,000 animals, mainly mice and rats, were genetically tested in 2013 alone — one third of all animals on which scientific testing was conducted during that year in Germany. …

The first wave of genetically modified mosquitoes were released Wednesday in the Cayman Islands as part of a new effort to control the insect that spreads Zika and other viruses, officials in the British Island territory said. Genetically altered male mosquitoes, which don’t bite but are expected to mate with females to produce offspring that die before reaching adulthood, were released in the West Bay area of Grand Cayman Island, according to a joint statement from the Cayman Islands Mosquito Research and Control Unit and British biotech firm Oxitec. …

Letter to the editor, Santa Rosa, CA (Obviously stands for Crazy America) Changing our DNA EDITOR: I think it’s about time that we give up trying to reform anyone’s attitudes about gun control and racism. As President Barack Obama said the other day, that stuff is in our DNA. Yes, our DNA makes us human beings the greedy, selfish and dangerously inconsiderate people we usually are when dealing with those whom we don’t love and respect such as parents, children, friends and the like. It’s time for the genetic engineers to work seriously on eliminating from our gnome that which...

At 25, Russ Crandall was the picture of health. In 2005, the Navy translator—fluent in Russian and Indonesian—was so fit that he was often enlisted to whip out-of-shape recruits into, well, shape. And then, out of the blue, everything changed. "I had a stroke, and my body just stopped working the way I was expecting," the force behind paleo blog The Domestic Man told Yahoo Food. “The doctors couldn’t figure out why. They were like, ‘Figure out how to write again. Figure out how to walk.’” Within six months, Crandall had relearned both—he credits the speedy recovery to his youth...

Millions of genetically modified mosquitoes could be released in the Florida Keys if British researchers win approval to use the bugs against two extremely painful viral diseases. Never before have insects with modified DNA come so close to being set loose in a residential U.S. neighborhood. […] Dengue and chikungunya are growing threats in the U.S., but some people are more frightened at the thought of being bitten by a genetically modified organism. More than 130,000 signed a Change.org petition against the experiment. Even potential boosters say those responsible must do more to show that benefits outweigh the risks. […]...

France’s top administrative court on Thursday threw out a government ban on US agro-chemicals giant Monsanto from growing a type of genetically modified corn. A moratorium on MON810 corn—one of just two types of genetically altered food crops whose cultivation is approved by the European Union—has been in place in France since March 2012. The Council of State court noted in a statement that the moratorium had little legal basis. …

German chemical company BASF today (16 January) announced that it is stopping production of genetically-modified (GM) crops for the European market, citing hostility from consumers as the reason for the decision. “There is still a lack of acceptance for this technology in many parts of Europe — from the majority of consumers, farmers and politicians,” said Stefan Marcinowski, a member of BASF's board. “It does not make business sense to continue investing in products exclusively for cultivation in this market.” The company will move its plant-science unit from Limburgerhof in Germany to the United States. It will also close other...

The scientists have successfully introduced human genes into 300 dairy cows to produce milk with the same properties as human breast milk. Human milk contains high quantities of key nutrients that can help to boost the immune system of babies and reduce the risk of infections. The scientists behind the research believe milk from herds of genetically modified cows could provide an alternative to human breast milk and formula milk for babies, which is often criticised as being an inferior substitute. They hope genetically modified dairy products from herds of similar cows could be sold in supermarkets. The research has...

As the "new biotechnology" -- gene-splicing, or "genetic modification" (GM) -- enjoys ever more varied and impressive successes, the intractable opposition from environmental and other activists has become reminiscent of the old cartoon cliché about the person who year after year inaccurately predicts the end of the world. Activists' antagonism belies the fact that gene-splicing offers enhanced efficiency for a vast array of processes, and proven benefits to both human health and the environment. For example, a single issue of a prominent monthly biotech journal contained three unrelated articles that illustrate a good part of the spectrum of benefits of...

A genetically modified mosquito is a good mosquito. But there are cavemen among us who seem to live to thwart technological advances, and they may prefer the old disease-spreading pests that have plagued mankind since the beginning. As far-fetched as it might sound, scientists at Imperial College London have created genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes. But these scientists are not as mad as they might seem. They plan to release the mosquitoes with the hope they will wipe out natural mosquito populations in regions where deadly malaria rages or people are plagued by dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases. Here’s how...

TRENTON, N.J. - Can animal genes be jammed into plants? Would tomatoes with catfish genes taste fishy? Have you ever eaten a genetically modified food? The answers are: yes, no and almost definitely. But according to a survey, most Americans couldn't answer correctly even though they've been eating genetically modified foods — unlabeled — for nearly a decade. "It's just not on the radar screen," said William Hallman, associate director of the Food Biotechnology Program at the Rutgers Food Policy Institute, which conducted the survey. Today, roughly 75 percent of U.S. processed foods — boxed cereals, other grain products, frozen...

EU Head Office Approves Genetically Modified Corn ProductThe Associated Press Published: Jun 25, 2004 BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The European Commission proposed Friday that EU governments approve Monsanto Co.'s genetically modified corn for use in processed foods. The commission said any products containing the corn, known as NK603, would have to be labeled clearly as genetically modified. The corn produced by St. Louis-based Monsanto underwent "a thorough safety assessment for any adverse impact on public health," the EU head office said in a statement. Friday's proposal to allow the corn to be marketed came a month after the European Union...

A genetically-modified virus that exploits the selfish behaviour of cancer cells may offer a powerful and selective way of killing tumours. Deleting a key gene from the virus enabled it to infect and burst cancer cells while leaving normal tissues unharmed, reveals a study by researchers at Cancer Research UK and Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London. Viruses spread by infiltrating the cells of their host. Normally, the detection of an intruder by a cell triggers a process called apoptosis, which causes the cell to commit suicide and prevents the virus spreading further. However, viruses can...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Two public interest groups that want to block sales of fluorescent zebra fish — the nation's first biotech household pet — sued the federal government Wednesday. The lawsuit asks a federal judge to order the Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) and the Department of Health and Human Services (news - web sites) to halt sales of the trademarked GloFish until the government regulates the genetically modified animal. The normally black-and-silver zebra fish glow bright red under black or ultraviolet light thanks to a gene transplanted from a sea anemone. Sales of the Florida-grown fish...

Press Release of Raelian Movement 16th July 2003 Follow-up to Yes to GM : Raelians demonstrate naked! In response to the event "Bare Witness" which took place in Great Britain this past June 29th where 30 demonstrators gathered fully naked to form the words: "No GM", more than 300 naked Raelians had gathered to form the words "I love GM" during their Annual Sensual Meditation Seminars. This demonstration took place on Monday July 14th at 2PM at UFOland - 1382 Rg 7 - VALCOURT.

Around 30 people have staged a naked protest against GM food. The protesters spelled out "no GM" with their bodies in a meadow at Forest Row, East Sussex. Organiser Mike Grenville said he hoped it would send a message to the Government of people's concern, particularly over commercial planting of GM crops. Mr Grenville, 51, a self-employed business consultant from Forest Row, said: "I think people were very pleased to have the opportunity to express how we feel, how frustrated we are about what seems to be the foregone conclusion, and the question many people are saying is 'What do...