[IN THE NEWS] Pharm Animals

In After the Bomb, the Spider-Goat was based on experiments done around the turn of the century to mass produce spider silk through goats milk. [1], [2], [3]

Now it's come out that a pharmaceutical company has produced a drug from a human protein extracted from the milk of genetically engineered goats. [4], [5], [6]

The process for producing ATryn involves scientists inserting DNA for the human antithrombin protein into a single-celled goat embryo. This embryo is implanted into a surrogate doe. The resulting transgenic offspring are able to produce high levels of antithrombin in their milk. This protein is collected and purified from the milk to produce ATryn, which is administered to patients by intravenous infusion.

So what kind of AtB mutant could we come up with with this? How about an animal that could produce almost any kind of curative drug. A veritable walking pharmacy. Given time, who's to say that scientist couldn't create goats that could produce multiple drugs in their milk, or even one that could sense what is ailing you and then produce the appropriate drug(s) to cure.

In mythology, a panacea, named after the Greek goddess of healing, was supposed to be able to cure all diseases, illnesses, and extend life...indefinitely. Thus is born the Panacea Goat.