Diabetes breakthrough: Cow produces human insulin in world first
The study, published in Biotechnology Journal, used genetic engineering techniques to integrate a human DNA segment that produces proinsulin into cows’ embryos.
“I could see a future where a 100-head herd, equivalent to a small Illinois or Wisconsin dairy, could produce all the insulin needed for the country. And a larger herd? You could make the whole world’s supply in a year.”
Milk to the rescue for diabetics? Illinois project creates first insulin-producing cow
The insulin and proinsulin, which would need to be extracted and purified for use, were expressed at a few grams per liter in the milk. But because the lactation was induced hormonally and the milk volume was smaller than expected, the team can’t say exactly how much insulin would be made in a typical lactation.
Conservatively, Wheeler says if a cow could make 1 gram of insulin per liter and a typical Holstein makes 40 to 50 liters per day, that’s a lot of insulin. Especially since the typical unit of insulin equals 0.0347 milligrams.
“That means each gram is equivalent to 28,818 units of insulin,” Wheeler said. “And that's just one liter; Holsteins can produce 50 liters per day. You can do the math.”
The team plans to re-clone the cow, and is optimistic they’ll achieve greater success with pregnancy and full lactation cycles in the next generation. Eventually, they hope to create transgenic bulls to mate with the females, creating transgenic offspring that can be used to establish a purpose-built herd. Wheeler says even a small herd could quickly outcompete existing methods — transgenic yeast and bacteria — for producing insulin, and could do so without having to create highly technical facilities or infrastructure.
Human proinsulin production in the milk of transgenic cattle
The recombinant protein expression in the milk of transgenic cows is an exciting system of production once milk proteases can act on the protein processing converting recombinant protein to functional protein.
Now don’t get too excited. We have had similar news before that come to nothing.
Argentine Cow Clones To Produce Insulin In Milk
ARGENTINA - Argentine scientists said on Tuesday they had created four cloned and genetically modified calves capable of producing human insulin in their milk, a step they said could cut the cost of treating diabetes.
18 April 2007