Wednesday, April 6, 2011

The Breast Milk Money Can Buy

We live in a weird world, don't we? If Chinese researchers have their way, it's going to get even weirder! Just take a look at this headline from Britain's The Telegraph: Genetically Modified Cows Produce 'Human' Milk.
The scientists have successfully introduced human genes into 300 dairy cows to produce milk with the same properties as human breast milk.

Human milk contains high quantities of key nutrients that can help to boost the immune system of babies and reduce the risk of infections.

The scientists behind the research believe milk from herds of genetically modified cows could provide an alternative to human breast milk and formula milk for babies, which is often criticised as being an inferior substitute.

They hope genetically modified dairy products from herds of similar cows could be sold in supermarkets. The research has the backing of a major biotechnology company...
That last sentence was an obvious given. I can't imagine anyone pursuing this rather odd research if somebody else didn't think it would mean a profit bonanza down the road!

I wonder what they will conjure up next? Maybe put milk-producing breasts on TV sets, so infants can get their nutrients while being fed mindless video stimulation!

I'm interested to hear what you parents think of this strange new gambit. Do you think you would be likely to purchase homogenized breast milk at the local market?

2 comments:

  1. It's probably better than adding melamine to the milk powder.

    China is no different from any other country that has made it very difficult for nursing mothers to do it naturally.

    The irony is that the Chinese diet traditionally doesn't make use of much dairy, beyond infancy.

    This reminds me of a plan of a decade ago by the World Bank to provide funds for Chinese peasants in the south to each raise a steer to the point where it would be ready for the feedlot. Beef feedlots are also not a traditional part of the Chinese diet system. Who do you think was the market for those steers?

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  2. may help them capture the lactose-intolerant market?

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