Jennifer Marohasy

a forum for the discussion of issues concerning the natural environment

Archives for February 24, 2007

GM Chickens for Therapeutic Drugs: A Note from Paul Williams

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Hi Jennifer,

There has been quite a lot of discussion about Genetically Modified (GM) organisms related to vegetable products, but I wonder if readers are aware that GM, or transgenic animals are also a subject of study.

Here is a link to an article that describes the production of transgenic hens which can produce eggs containing therapeutic protein based drugs:

“We describe the generation of transgenic chickens that synthesize functional recombinant therapeutic protein specifically in the oviduct of laying hens as a component of egg white.”

Translation: How we bred GM chickens that produce eggs containing therapeutic drugs.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1783527

I wonder if people who oppose GM crops also oppose this type of research?

Regards,
Paul Williams
Mt Baker, South Australia

Whaling Mother Ship Being Repaired: A Note from Glenn Inwood

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I emailed Glenn Inwood yesterday. He is a spokesman for the Japanese whalers in the Antarctic whose mother ship the Nisshin Maru had to be evacuated last week after a fire broke out.

Greenpeace has been concerned the stricken ship could end up an ecological disaster with 1.3 million litres of fuel potentially leaking into the ocean.

I asked Mr Inwood for an update on the situation and he emailed me this morning:

Dear Jennifer,

Over the week, the crew first dealt with electrical and mechanical checks, replacing wiring that was burnt out, getting the engines going. The engines are apparently in good shape, able to function and ready to go.

After that, they looked at navigational and safety aspects of the vessel, such as checking the two radars, rudder control, autopilot navigation, etcetera.

As of yesterday, I understand they were unfreezing pipes, getting the desalinator going, getting freshwater back into the system, and cleaning out living quarters that were flooded from fighting the fire.

We have benefited from excellently calm Antarctic weather. As we have assured media, if conditions deteriorate and the vessel needs to be moved from where she is, then of course that will be done. While they were repairing engine, etcetera, they also hooked up a tow just in case it was required.

The crew has worked day and night tirelessly to get the vessel ready for sailing. It’s been a very trying time for them. Not only have they lost a colleague, they are receiving those reports from Greenpeace and Chris Carter and that’s making it more difficult for them. I hope to have good news for you soon.

Best regards,
Glenn Inwood

According to Radio New Zealand the ship was moving under its own power this afternoon taking a short test run.