Glow In The Dark Chickens Are Fighting Bird Flu

English scientists are working to develop genetically-modified chickens that could block bird flu and hopefully prevent outbreaks among poultry and people alike.

BIRD FLU OUTBREAKS IN THE UNITED STATES

Since December 2014, bird flu outbreaks have killed 48 million U.S. chickens and turkeys. Apart from being bad for the birds, these outbreaks also pose dangers for the people working with the animals. Poultry handlers are at higher risks of bird flu infections, and if the virus mutates on infection, then the world could be facing a potential pandemic.

Glow in the Dark Chickens Fighting Disease

Researchers in the U.K. are now experimenting with a genetic sequence that, if exposed to the bird flu, can trick the virus into copying the deceptive gene instead of replicating itself. The GM birds are injected with this gene as embryos and they could effectively pass the modification along to offspring.

In order for scientists to tell the modified chickens apart from the unmodified ones, the GM birds are also injected with a fluorescent protein that causes their beaks and feet to glow under ultraviolet light. If studies support the effectiveness of the genetic modification enough for the poultry industry to use it commercially, the birds will not be bred to glow in the dark. But for now, we have glow in the dark chickens fighting disease.

Qualms With Commercial GMOs

The research, funded in large part by chicken-breeding companies from the U.S. and Germany, shows promising results so far. The GM chickens in the study did exhibit “slower affectation and less susceptibility” to bird flu infection than the unmodified chickens, but the genetic modifications are not quite ready for commercial use.

The industry may not be ready for the modifications yet, either. Producers and consumers alike still harbor many concerns about the safety and ethics of genetically modified organisms, and several companies have specific policies against breeding GM animals. The EW Group, one of the study’s funders, is one such company.

The EW Group is still curious enough about the potential benefits of GMOs to support the studies, but U.S. company Cobb-Vantress put their funding on hold until the researchers can demonstrate real commercial potential for the modifications. Even then, consumers may not love the idea. But the resulting virus-stopping technology could still mark a breakthrough for pathologists in a variety of contexts–even if we aren’t eating it for dinner.


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