Would you feed your baby ‘human’ milk, produced by a cow? Yes, that's right, I said a cow. Well, if genetic scientists have their way, this could soon be a reality, albeit with its own set of repercussions.

The latest news from the Telegraph is that scientists have been successful in introducing the human genes for milk production into about 300 dairy cows. As a result, these cows are now able to produce “human milk.”

Human milk is a storehouse of key nutrients required to boost the immune system of babies. Scientists behind this latest venture were seeking to provide an alternative source of human milk which can be used by mothers who cannot produce their own milk. This way they do not have to turn to infant formula, which has already been criticized as an inferior substitute to human breast milk.

Cow ‘Human’ Milk In Supermarkets

Although it is too early to predict any kind of future for cow-produced human milk, the scientists behind this whole venture are nevertheless hopeful these genetically modified milk products will eventually be sold at supermarkets. Their research has been backed by a major biotechnology company so this prospect might just become a reality.

So, the next time you take a trip to your local supermarket; don’t forget to check the milk carton before paying for it.

Is ‘Human’ Milk Safe?

Professor Ning Li, the lead scientist of the group, insists that the genetically modified milk should be safe for human consumption, just like milk from the ordinary dairy cows. He says, “The milk tastes stronger than normal milk. We aim to commercialize some research in this area in the coming three years...”

Right now, China is leading the way in research on genetically modified food items, probably because the technological rules in China are more relaxed compared to those in the rest of the world.

How Did They Do It? 

The scientists introduced human genes into the DNA of Holstein dairy cow embryos. These genetically modified embryos were implanted into surrogate cows. Through this procedure, the scientists created cows capable of producing milk containing lysozyme, which is a human protein. For the uninitiated, lysozyme is an anti-microbial protein, which is present in human breast milk in large quantities. Its main job is to keep the infants safe from bacterial infections, especially during the early stages of life.

Another set of cows was created, which can produce another human protein, lactoferrin, in their milk. This protein is an immune-booster. The cows were also able to produce alpha-lactalbumin, which again is an important component of human breast milk.

The mainstay of the study, in the words of Professor Li, is that the genetically modified cow milk could become a possible substitute for human milk.

Finally, The Debate

This genetic modification has met with widespread protests in the Western world. This highly controversial product is currently being sold only in the UK and Europe, but only after being subjected to extensive safety testing. Consumers are very unhappy about this product, forcing the supermarkets to source milk products that are GM free.

The anti-GMO campaigners consider this development a threat to the environment and the safety of the world. Their claims are already reverberating in the results of the Chinese experiments. Out of the 42 transgenic calves, born as a result of the genetic modification experiment, only 26 survived. While 10 died shortly after birth from gastrointestinal disease, six more died six months later.

The Conclusion

While some authorities tout this as the invention of the century, there is no doubt that such inventions should be treated with caution. The ‘human’ milk produced by cows should be consumed only after you ask yourself this question – ‘What does it have that we don't already have?”

Image Credit: ibstreatmentcenter.blogspot.com, naturalparenting.com.au, cowpictures.net