Millions of people around the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries, lack access to insulin, an essential medicine for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Scientists at the University of Illinois and the University of Sao Paulo have created a GM cow whose milk contains a segment of human DNA that codes for proinsulin (the insulin precursor), which produces human insulin.
Cows’ mammary glands are natural protein factories, providing a cost-effective and scalable production method. The human DNA insert is designed to be expressed only in mammary gland tissue, eliminating the presence of insulin in other parts of the cow’s body. It is estimated that one cow can produce enough insulin to meet the needs of a diabetic patient for many years.
The researchers plan to create a transgenic herd through selective breeding. But before that, it is necessary to solve the problem of an effective treatment system and obtain regulatory approvals.
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Source: Ferra
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