Belarusian scientists to create a she-goat using a human gene

Belorusian and Russian scientists are planning to produce a genetically engineered she-goat.

It would be the first genetically engineered she-goat to be created in the CIS countries, according to Alexander Budevich, a project coordinator of the joint project BelRosTransgen, a researcher with the cattle breeding research center of the Belurusian National Academy of Sciences. He says that human proteins will be inserted into the animal DNA this May.

"Lactoferrine derived from the human milk will be inserted into the animal DNA to produce unique milk with immune-enhancing properties,"  says Mr. Budevish. Scientists are planning to insert human lactoferrine into 100 animals.

The new goats' milk will be an effective means of treating cardiovascular diseases and the best milk for the artificial feeding of infants should the experiments prove a success. Scientists use the goat for their experiments because the animal is quite agreeable by nature and has a short pregnancy period, Interfax reported. The first experiments involving genetic engineering of animals started in Belarus about 15 years ago, according to Mr. Budeviсh.