Pig with Spinach Gene Created at Kinki University

Ananova 24jan02

Japanese researchers say they have inserted a spinach gene into pigs.

They claim this is the first time a plant gene has been successfully transferred into a large animal.

Scientists say the meat from the pigs is healthier than traditional pork because the gene produces a fat-converting enzyme.

The Mainichi Daily News reports the gene is responsible for producing an enzyme which converts fatty saturated acids into a healthy unsaturated version.

Researchers at Kinki University's School of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology and Japan's National Institute for Basic Biology carried out the experiment.

They inserted a spinach gene into a fertilized pig egg and implanted it in the womb of a female pig.

The team claim tests on the pigs confirmed their bodies contained 20% more unsaturated fatty acids than normal.

source: http://www.ananova.com/yournews/story/sm_503308.html  24jan02