LIFESCIENCE: pigs

[speer@interport.net (speer)]

---------------------------------------------------------
ARS ELECTRONICA FESTIVAL 99
LIFESCIENCE
Linz, Austria, September 04 - 09
http://www.aec.at/lifescience
---------------------------------------------------------
 Scientists ready to create giant pigs

GIANT hams up to four times the normal size could result from research into 
altering the genes of pigs to make their legs grow unnaturally muscular. 
Pig breeders in Britain have warned that attempts may be under way overseas 
to breed genetically modified superpigs. 

Scientists have identified the genetic fault that causes "muscle doubling" in 
mammals, which could be used to produce pigs with shanks up to four times 
bigger than normal. 

The concern follows reports that attempts were made two years ago to produce 
genetically modified salmon that could grow four times faster than normal. 
The project was abandoned because of fears the fish might escape. 

British pig experts emphasised yesterday that they do not want to breed 
superpigs because of public concerns about animal welfare but they believe 
the project is a serious possibility elsewhere in the world. 

China, which has a long history of pig-breeding, is considered the most 
likely place where the superpig could be under development, according to Dr 
John Webb, director of science and genetics at the Cotswold Pig Development 
Company in Lincolnshire. Dr Webb said the Chinese have a type of pig - a 
Meishan - which gives birth to 16 piglets rather than the usual 12 and this 
breed could become the target of genetic modification. 

This would give Chinese pig-breeders an advantage in meat production for the 
global market and undermine European producers who have to work under 
stricter welfare rules. 

A muscular superpig with a bigger breeding capacity and faster growth rate 
could result in pork meat that is 30 per cent cheaper and so seriously 
undercut the British and European pig industry, he said. 

Last year scientists identified the double-muscling gene, called myostatin, 
in mice and found they could genetically engineer the laboratory animals to 
develop oversized muscles virtually to order. 

Dr Webb said it would be a relatively simple procedure to reproduce the 
effect in pigs in order to breed animals with giant hams. "Somebody's going 
to do it outside Europe and what is it going to do for the farming industry 
here? If they are already doing it, they are not going to tell us about it," 
he said. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are subscribed to the English language version of LIFESCIENCE
To unsubscribe the English language version send mail to
lifescience-en-request@aec.at (message text 'unsubscribe')
Send contributions to lifescience@aec.at
--------------------------------------------------------------------------