Age of the superpig?

Press, 4 February 1986, Page 12

Age of the superpig?

By lan Williams AAP correspondent Adelaide Farm animals which grow at twice the normal rate could soon be produced in Australia after a break-through in genetic engineering. Scientists at Adelaide University are eagerly awaiting the birth of the first “superpigs” this month, which will mark a new era in Australian agriculture. The first transgenic sheep with super-fast wool growth are likely to be born later this year to be followed by cattle with vastly increased milk production.

The project co-ordina-tor, Dr Bob Seamark, the leader of endochrinology at Adelaide University, said farmers had not yet realised the full significance of advances in genetic engineering. "During the next year we will evaluate these animals and they should start to be available, if they are any good, the year after that,” he said.

“We are well on our way with the sheep programme and should have some transgenic sheep, with increased wool growth of about 20 per cent, some time in April. We haven’t tackled cattle yet, but using the same method we should be able increase milk production about 40 per cent.” Dr Seamark is conducting his research with Dr Julian Wells, director of the Commonwealth Centre of Excellence for Gene Technology, which is also based at Adelaide University. The team's work on farm animals comes after the successful production last year of a “super mouse” which grew to twice the normal size. “We donT intend to have the pigs larger than normal size, because they are big enough already.

but they will reach their market rate quicker,” said Dr Seamark. The technique was relatively simple — introducing extra growth genes into animals. Eggs taken from animals are fertilised and injected with genes coded for growth hormone production. Animals carrying these genes should be able to reproduce normally and pass on their growth characteristics to their offspring. The technique is even more remarkable because the growth rate of the animals can be strictly controlled, the special hormone being activated only by a specific food substance. In the case of the superpigs, they will only grow at a super rate if fed minute and non-toxic traces of heavy metals such as copper or zinc. Genetically engineered

pigs have already been bred in the United States where the system is now being evaluated. Dr Seamark said the ethical issues raised by the research were of concern. “Without proper and responsible education of people it sounds like Brave New World stuff,” he said. “Fiddling around with life, as it were, scares people because there has been a lot of science fiction literature about the creation of things like

this. That in essence is what we are doing, but we have no intention of doing it on humans. “People may say it could be used on some future occasion,, but we are very conscious of this and are not likely to do anything irresponsible.” Other scientists were using the same technology to build a better understanding of what caused cancer. "We can’t stop this very important development in medical research with all its potential good because

on some future occasion ' somebody might misuse it,” he said. “It’s like the ’ development of dynamite or gunpowder which has ‘ the potential of good or bad. “The world would be a pretty limited place if there was no dynamite or * gunpowder for doing massive roadworks and min- ’ ing. This is the same sort • of thing. It has the potential for good or bad. ’ 5' > “I think common sense ‘ will prevail and only the good will come from this sort of work.”