GM Chickens - flu resistant.

[chris]

BBC News - World's first flu-resistant GM chickens 'created'

Not sure how I feel about that, I know it goes on but

[Nicos]

I would have preferred them to have built up their own immunity to be honest.
It'll only mutate again in years to come.
(It's mostly the wild birds which tend to spread it)

[Glutton4...]

Nooooooo - I don't like it!

[rana]

It is a dubious solution to a problem created by man - who insists on raising cheap chickens in overcrowded unhealthy conditions.

[country chic]

Mixed feelings about this one, it is a helpful solution to keeping birds in large quantities for the commercial market and it may even help hinder the spread of bird flu to 'non' GM birds which for people like me can only be good. But who knows the effects of interferring in this way with an animals genetic make-up.

[Hilary B]

Mixed feelings about this one, it is a helpful solution to keeping birds in large quantities for the commercial market and it may even help hinder the spread of bird flu to 'non' GM birds which for people like me can only be good. But who knows the effects of interferring in this way with an animals genetic make-up.

It's that last point that bothers me. It's not even a 'proper' gene from somewhere else. it's a bit of the virus! I don't really see how that can cope with viral mutations (as they claim it will do), and in any case, the best way of tackling viral disease is to avoid the conditions that encourage it (overcrowding and stress)!

[Flummery]

They interviewed an free range chicken farmer who says he doesn't have flu problems - because his chickens are well kept with sufficient space. That's the real problem. We create a problem by monstrous rearing practices and then have to GM the thing to get rid of it.

I also thought that the people interviewed on the news might have known loads about gene transfer and avian flu but they knew nack all about chickens. Poor little beggars looked right scruffy to me!

[Newtothis]

I also thought that the people interviewed on the news might have known loads about gene transfer and avian flu but they knew nack all about chickens. Poor little beggars looked right scruffy to me!

I agree. I think that they should make sure the people they interview are nicely dressed!

David

[BUFFS]

Mixed feelings about this one, it is a helpful solution to keeping birds in large quantities for the commercial market and it may even help hinder the spread of bird flu to 'non' GM birds which for people like me can only be good. But who knows the effects of interferring in this way with an animals genetic make-up.

this has very little to do with enhancing the pigs biosystem,its all down to money,from the same ilk that gave us thalidimite,ddt,etc,they are the same sort that keep on insisting that smoking does no harm(heard it said in the states that its just a political ploy)and when a profit is in sight,for the salesmen,there are no barriers about lying,exagerating and scamming to get their cash,no matter who or how many it hurts,it would be just like our useless pack of bankers,they just walk away and demand bonuses for doing more damage than hitler...its the samesnout in trough mentality,sorry to go on ,3 of family made redundant in 4 days,and not looking good for the others ,this area was only just recovering from 9/11 and the yanks doing a runner withmachinery owned here..