Scientists Clone Sheep With 'Good' Fat

redletterdave writes "Chinese scientists have cloned a genetically modified sheep containing a 'good' type of fat found naturally in nuts, seeds, fish and leafy greens that helps reduce the risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease. The gene, which is linked to the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids, was inserted into a donor cell taken from the ear of a Chinese Merino sheep. The cell was then inserted into an unfertilized egg and implanted into the womb of a surrogate sheep. With any luck, this process could be replicated in the future to clone more animals for safe and healthy consumption."

Re:Genetically Modified Hogs next?

[MyFirstNameIsPaul]

This is already a reality with naturally-fed animals. For example, beef can provide us with all the healthy fats and oils we need when the cow is grass-fed and range raised. When chickens are raised on a diet or worms that grow in fresh cow dung, the consistency, flavor, and overall health of their eggs is substantially higher than what is generally available in the supermarket.

Re:Healthy

[slew]

Worth mentioning that humans evolved to eat animals with standard fat percentages, not margarine or mealworm-sheep. There is no significant evidence for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of CHD or CVD [ajcn.org], and there are healthy populations that traditionally go 6-9 months with no fats except animals fats.

FWIW, the main advance with this announcement is not the omega-3/FAT-1 transgenic aspect, it is the new cloning technique BGI calls handmade cloning which apparently allows lower-tech facilities and higher transgenic clone yield. BGI has already done this transgenic modification with pigs and now they have done it with sheep. With this new cloning technique, however, it might be possible to do this at an industrial scale.

However, If you are interested instead about this specific "fat-1" transgenic idea, it was done with mice [nih.gov] way back in 2004.

Although that is possibly true that saturated fats aren't corrolated with increased risk of CHD or CVD, omega-3 fatty acids are required for controlling blood clotting and building cell membranes in the brain and are assumed to be a necessary nutrient. The "healthy populations" you seem to be alluding to likley maintain their consumption of omega-3 fatty acids from seafood and nuts and oils for 6-9 months of the year.

Re:Fat?

[WarSpiteX]

I think you may be wrong. Nuts and avocados are the most common plants to contain fats, but others do as well. Like olives.

Unless you think you're frying your chicken on olive carbs, rather than olive oil?

Re:Genetically Modified Hogs next?

[RulerOf]

Then you die like the doctor who came-up with this "eat lots of fat" diet.

If you think that his diet was the cause of the fall and resulting head trauma that killed him, I've got some news for you: you're a fucking moron. [wikipedia.org]

Re:Genetically Modified Hogs next?

[drinkypoo]

For some reason, the more you talk up animal products, the more I want to become a vegan.

I favor meat licenses. You should have to tour a slaughterhouse or kill and cook an animal before you're allowed to eat meat. Let's have a little recognition of where our food comes from and what happens to it on the way. I've killed, skinned, cut up and cooked a deer, I've caught and killed a goose by hand and it went in the stew... I understand I'm eating life, and what that actually means, and I'm cool with it. I know that when you cut them, stuff comes out you don't want on your hands, and yet after you grill them they are goddamned delicious, and good for you. If I eat a typical meal (notably including a little carb bomb) I feel stuffed and weighted down. If I just eat a big fucking steak I feel great, full of energy, have a nice crap the next morning and I'm up and at 'em. Meat, it's what's for dinner.

BRING ON THE CRAPWORMS