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Science 16 June 1989:
Vol. 244. no. 4910, pp. 1281 - 1288
DOI: 10.1126/science.2499927
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Articles

Science, Vol 244, Issue 4910, 1281-1288
Copyright © 1989 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Genetic engineering of livestock

VG Pursel, CA Pinkert, KF Miller, DJ Bolt, RG Campbell, RD Palmiter, RL Brinster, and RE Hammer

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705.

Genetic engineering of livestock is expected to have a major effect on the agricultural industry. However, accurate assessment of the consequences of transgene expression is impossible without multigenerational studies. A systematic study of the beneficial and adverse consequences of long-term elevations in the plasma levels of bovine growth hormone (bGH) was conducted on two lines of transgenic pigs. Two successive generations of pigs expressing the bGH gene showed significant improvements in both daily weight gain and feed efficiency and exhibited changes in carcass composition that included a marked reduction in subcutaneous fat. However, long-term elevation of bGH was generally detrimental to health: the pigs had a high incidence of gastric ulcers, arthritis, cardiomegaly, dermatitis, and renal disease. The ability to produce pigs exhibiting only the beneficial, growth-promoting effects of growth hormone by a transgenic approach may require better control of transgene expression, a different genetic background, or a modified husbandry regimen.


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