Farming and Pharming in the 21st Century

Researchers in the Veterinary and Animal Sciences Department have developed new methods for the identification of specific genes on chromosomes in cattle, swine, and chickens, according to department head, Robert T. Duby. Writing in the UMass Experiment Station newsletter “Accents,” Duby says that using this technology will make it possible to determine if the offspring of selected mating will carry the genes required for high milk production, fast growth rates, and/or resistance to disease. “Complementing these findings,” he adds, “is the work of Dr. James Robl, who is developing new technology for the production of transgenic and cloned animals.” Other potential uses of this technology are in human medicine and biotechnology, two of the fastest growing areas in the Massachusetts economy. Transgenic animals are being considered as potential donors of organs for transplantation into humans. If human antigens, for instance, could be “engineered” into the genome of a pig, then the tissues would be compatible.