Vermont's Independent Voice
Browse News
Browse Arts + Culture
Browse Food + Drink
Browse Cannabis
Browse Music
Browse On Screen
Browse Events
Browse Classifieds
Browse Personals
Published May 4, 2005 at 4:00 p.m.
Can scientists design a better "Bossy?" It depends on how you view the use of biotechnology in agriculture.
Some dairy farmers welcome the idea of a milker made to resist a form of mastitis -- a painful udder infection that is difficult to control with antibiotics. David Kerr, an assistant professor of animal sciences at UVM, developed the modified gene that enables cows to produce an enzyme, lysostaphin, which appears to ward off the infection. The modified gene was sent to collaborating researchers in Maryland, who inserted it into the embryos of Jersey cows. So far, five transgenic cows and one bull have been produced. All show significant resistance to the mastitis-causing bacteria.
Incidents of mastitis have grown apace with technological advances in the dairy industry; reportedly, the infection spreads from cow to cow through milking machines. According to a UVM press release, the disease costs dairy farmers about $2 billion a year in discarded milk, antibiotics, vet fees and other related expenses.
Thus far, milk from GE cows hasn't been approved for human consumption. Whether Vermont's dairy farmers and milk consumers embrace the idea of genetically altered cows remains to be seen.
More By This Author
About The Author
Ken Picard
Bio:
Ken Picard has been a Seven Days staff writer since 2002. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the Vermont Press Association's 2005 Mavis Doyle award, a general excellence prize for reporters.
Ken Picard has been a Seven Days staff writer since 2002. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the Vermont Press Association's 2005 Mavis Doyle award, a general excellence prize for reporters.
Speaking of...
-
After Reorganization, Vermont State University Enrollment Rises
Sep 5, 2024 -
New Spots to Eat at Burlington's South End Art Hop
Sep 3, 2024 -
UVM Seeks to Secure Its Future by Building Up Its Research Muscle
Aug 28, 2024 -
UVM Provost Patricia Prelock to Serve as Interim President
Aug 19, 2024 -
UVM President Garimella to Leave for University of Arizona
Aug 9, 2024 - More »
Comments
Comments are closed.
From 2014-2020, Seven Days allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. While we've appreciated the suggestions and insights, right now Seven Days is prioritizing our core mission — producing high-quality, responsible local journalism — over moderating online debates between readers.
To criticize, correct or praise our reporting, please send us a letter to the editor or send us a tip. We’ll check it out and report the results.
Online comments may return when we have better tech tools for managing them. Thanks for reading.
