Genetically modified bird

Genetically modified birds (GM birds) are organisms from the biological class Aves whose genetic material (DNA) has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. In some cases, the aim is to introduce a new trait to the birds which does not occur naturally in the species, i.e. transgenesis. Attempts to produce transgenic birds began before 1980.[1]

Uses

Bird flu

One potential use of GM birds could be to reduce the spread of avian disease. Researchers at Roslin Institute have produced a strain of GM chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) that does not transmit avian flu to other birds; however, these birds are still susceptible to contracting it. The genetic modification is an RNA molecule that prevents the virus reproduction by mimicking the region of the flu virus genome that controls replication. It is referred to as a "decoy" because it diverts the flu virus enzyme, the polymerase, from functions that are required for virus replication.[2] There are other strategies to developing these GM birds. The second involves inserting a working copy of a gene that makes an antiviral protein called Mx, which is defective in many chicken breeds, but can improve their ability to fight-off the H5N1 bird flu strain and others. The third approach is called RNA interference, in which small fragments of the RNA are used to disrupt the functioning of the flu virus. By developing GM chicken cells to make small RNA molecules that confuse the flu virus, it is hoped to confer resistance to a wide variety of strains. All three could potentially be incorporated in the same GM chickens.[3]

Paleontological Research

A team of geneticists lead by University of Montana paleontologist Jack Horner is seeking to modify a chicken to express several features present in ancestral maniraptorans but absent in modern birds, such as teeth and a long tail[4], creating what has been dubbed a 'chickenosaurus'[5]. Parallel projects have produced chicken embryos expressing dinosaur-like skull[6], leg[7], and foot[8] anatomy.

References

  1. ↑ Scott, B.B.; Lois, C. (2005). "Generation of tissue-specific transgenic birds with lentiviral vectors". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 102 (45): 16443–16447. doi:10.1073/pnas.0508437102.
  2. ↑ "GM chickens that don't transmit bird flu". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  3. ↑ Adanna, L.C., Nwibo, D.D., Chukwuka, C.O. and Mbadugha, C.L. (2014). "Genetically modified birds" (PDF). IOSR Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences. 9 (6): 16–29.
  4. ↑ Landers, Jackson (November 10, 2014). "Paleontologist Jack Horner is hard at work trying to turn a chicken into a dinosaur". The Washington Times. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ Horner, John R.; Gorman, James (2009). How to build a dinosaur: extinction doesn't have to be forever. New York: Dutton. ISBN 978-0-525-95104-9. OCLC 233549535.
  6. ↑ Reverse Engineering Birds’ Beaks Into Dinosaur Bones by Carl Zimmer, NY Times, May 12, 2015
  7. ↑ Botelho, João Francisco; Smith-Paredes, Daniel; Soto-Acuña, Sergio; O'Connor, Jingmai; Palma, Verónica; Vargas, Alexander O. (4 March 2016). "Molecular development of fibular reduction in birds and its evolution from dinosaurs". Evolution. 70 (3).
  8. ↑ Botelho, João Francisco; Smith-Paredes, Daniel; Soto-Acuña, Sergio; Mpodozis, Jorge; Palma, Verónica; Vargas, Alexander O. (14 May 2015). "Skeletal plasticity in response to embryonic muscular activity underlies the development and evolution of the perching digit of birds". Scientific Reports. 5.


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