Engineered Animals and Tomorrow's Dinner Table
Inside the Transgenic Animal Research Conference XII
Where Science Fiction Meets Reality
Imagine a world where goats produce milk that can prevent childhood diarrhea, where mosquitoes are genetically programmed to suppress their own populations, and where livestock are resistant to diseases that have plagued farmers for centuries. This isn't science fiction—it's the cutting-edge reality discussed by scientists at the Transgenic Animal Research Conference XII (TARC XII), hosted by UC Davis in August 2019 2 .
Genetic Engineering
Advanced technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 are accelerating our ability to reshape animal genomes
Larger Animals
Focus on livestock, poultry, fish, and even endangered species beyond typical mouse models
Inside TARC XII: Where Science Meets Application
Conference Purpose
TARC XII was designed with three primary objectives: to share groundbreaking research, to foster collaborations across institutions and disciplines, and to provide science-based information for governmental regulators 2 .
- 24 plenary talks
- 25 poster presentations
- Small group interactions encouraged
Funding & Support
The conference was made possible through a $25,000 Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grant (BRAG) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture 2 .
Key Themes and Breakthroughs: The Cutting Edge of Animal Biotechnology
A Closer Look: The Transgenic Goat Milk Safety Experiment
Methodology and Approach
Research led by Dr. Elizabeth Maga of UC Davis on the safety of milk from transgenic goats engineered to produce human lysozyme 7 .
Comprehensive comparative assessment included:
- Growth rates and body condition
- Reproductive performance
- Blood chemistry and hematology
- Milk composition (besides lysozyme)
- Behavior patterns
- Gut microbiology
Results and Implications
No significant differences were observed between transgenic and control goats in any health or productivity parameters 2 .
No evidence of transfer of the lysozyme transgene or its protein product to non-transgenic animals 2 .
Human lysozyme in milk effectively inhibited growth of diarrhea-causing bacteria 7 .
Key Findings from Transgenic Goat Safety Study
| Parameter Measured | Transgenic Goats | Control Goats | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth rate | Normal | Normal | No difference |
| Reproductive performance | Normal | Normal | No difference |
| Blood chemistry | Normal | Normal | No difference |
| Milk composition (excluding lysozyme) | Normal | Normal | No difference |
| Behavior patterns | Normal | Normal | No difference |
| Transfer of lysozyme to non-transgenic animals | Not detected | Not applicable | No transfer observed |
Why This Matters
Diarrheal diseases remain a leading cause of death in children under five in developing countries, claiming approximately 525,000 young lives annually 7 . Milk from transgenic goats expressing human lysozyme could potentially prevent many of these deaths.
The Scientist's Toolkit: Essential Research Reagents
Advances in transgenic animal research depend on specialized reagents and technologies. Here are some of the key tools discussed at TARC XII:
| Reagent/Technology | Function | Example Applications |
|---|---|---|
| CRISPR-Cas9 systems | Precise gene editing using guide RNA and Cas9 nuclease | Gene knock-outs, gene insertions, gene corrections |
| Pronuclear microinjection | Direct injection of DNA into fertilized eggs | Creation of traditional transgenic animals |
| Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) | Transfer of nuclei from modified cells into enucleated oocytes | Production of genetically identical transgenic animals |
| Tissue-specific promoters | Control transgene expression in specific tissues or organs | Targeting expression to milk glands, muscles, etc. |
| Reporter genes (e.g., GFP) | Visual tracking of transgene expression and inheritance | Screening successfully modified animals |
| Antibodies against novel proteins | Detection and quantification of transgene products | Assessing expression levels of engineered traits |
| Embryo culture systems | Support development of embryos in vitro | Maintaining embryos before transplantation |
| Surrogate mothers | Carry pregnancies for genetically modified embryos | Producing offspring from modified embryos |
| N-Boc-PEG16-alcohol | C37H75NO18 | |
| N-Boc-PEG23-bromide | C53H106BrNO25 | |
| Zoniporide mesylate | 249296-45-5 | C18H20N6O4S |
| CMP (hydrochloride) | C10H17N · HCl | |
| Nalbuphine sebacate | 311768-81-7 | C52H68N2O10 |
Beyond the Science: Conference Participants and Perspectives
Diverse International Participation
TARC XII brought together 94 attendees from 9 different countries, representing academic institutions, industry, government laboratories, and regulatory agencies 2 .
Student Engagement and Training
Ethical and Regulatory Considerations: Navigating the Future
The Regulatory Challenge
A recurring theme throughout TARC XII was the disconnect between scientific progress in transgenic animal technologies and the regulatory frameworks that govern their approval and deployment 3 .
"The current recombinant DNA (rDNA) process-based trigger for regulatory evaluation of transgenic animals is disincentivizing the development of beneficial transgenic animal applications" 3 .
Researchers advocated for science-based regulatory approaches that focus on the specific characteristics of each new animal variety rather than the method used to create it 3 .
Public Engagement and Acceptance
Presenters and participants acknowledged that scientific advances alone are insufficient to ensure the responsible development and deployment of transgenic animal technologies.
"Scientists need to become full and fully informed participants in the debate about the ethical effects of the technologies that their work is instrumental in developing. Otherwise, consumer confidence in science and scientists may well be lost" 3 .
Meaningful public engagement and transparent communication about both benefits and potential risks are essential for building societal trust and acceptance.
Conclusion: From Laboratory to Society
The Transgenic Animal Research Conference XII served as both a snapshot of cutting-edge science and a forum for discussing the broader implications of that science for society. Research presented at the conference demonstrated rapid advances in our ability to precisely modify animal genomes for human benefit, addressing challenges ranging from food security to biomedical needs to environmental conservation.
Yet the conference also highlighted the complex interplay between science, regulation, ethics, and public acceptance that will determine whether these technological advances translate into real-world applications. As participants noted, the lack of approved transgenic food animals despite decades of research reflects not scientific limitations but rather regulatory and societal hurdles that remain to be addressed.
Timeline of Transgenic Animal Milestones Discussed at TARC XII
1997
First Transgenic Animal Research Conference - Established forum for researchers working with large transgenic animals
2006
Approval of ATryn® (transgenic goat product) - First therapeutic protein from transgenic animals approved in US and EU
2009
Approval of Ruconest® (transgenic rabbit product) - Second therapeutic protein from transgenic animals approved
2015
FDA approval of AquAdvantage salmon - First transgenic food animal approved (though not yet marketed)
2019
TARC XII conference - Presentation of advances in gene editing and safety assessment studies
The proceedings from TARC XII and previous conferences in the series were published in the journal Transgenic Research, extending the reach of these discussions to the broader scientific community 2 .