mooblog

Transgenesis is the modification of an animal’s genome deliberately to change its DNA characteristics. This would mean that any animal – or for that matter any living creature could incorporate the genes from any other living creature into its genome. Now why would anyone want to do that? To play God of course! And, right now, ostensibly, to see if certain traits could be incorporated into the animals being used for research so it could benefit mankind.

Today, there have been experiments that have succeeded in producing transgenic cows. What began with a mouse becoming a mighty mouse being able to help in human cancers has today gone way beyond that to experiments with other animals as well. Introducing a gene that does not belong to the animal’s genetic make up is not usually successful but there are instances where it has been possible and most animals undergo gene transfer through the process of microinjection.

Why do this at all? There are advantages, no doubt. These animals can be used for medical research and for better health. They can be programmed to produce more – in the case of cows, a breed could be raised that is extremely disease-resistant as well as high yielding. There can be breeds that are modified to yield more meat or more milk – whatever the farmer is breeding them for. They could also yield milk sooner than they have before. In the medical field, there could be animals that are reared specifically to produce products like mediums to make healthy cells grow, organs for transplant, etc.

The question remains: Can we play God? Are we really the only ones that matter in the world? Or in the universe? Man has always thought so. Nature might not. Interfering with natural processes when it comes to the weather has resulted in catastrophes like global warming. Will this interfering in the process of evolution also be the same? Will mankind end up like something out of a gruesome Hollywood movie where the plot goes through callousness or carelessness in experiments that end up with monsters populating and taking over the world? Most important, is it right to do so? We didn’t invent Life or its myriad life forms. What right have we to mutate them and change them beyond recognition?

So is it ethical? I think not. Will it happen? With a company like Dupont having acquired the sole rights for this process, of course it will. Let’s not fool ourselves into thinking otherwise.

Have you noticed that everything that you love sooner or later gets into that ‘Don’t eat’ list? What is it about the world that wants to make you give up everything you enjoy? Time was, when I was young – and that was many moons ago – I remember aunts telling their kids to drink up their milk. My siblings and I were held up as shining examples. “Look at them – they’re going to grow up big and strong and you – you’re going to stay looking like a runt if you don’t drink your milk!” Of course, way back then, there was no choice. Drink it they did, never mind how much they detested it – and maybe I grew up strong but big translated to tall I am not!

I’ve never asked them – but I wonder now whether they tell their kids not to drink their milk in these days of milk-bashing. I just wish everyone would follow the happy maxim of one man’s meat being another man’s poison and leave those who love their milk to drink it and those who don’t to stay away from it and not touch it with a bargepole. Why, oh why do they have to take away one of the pleasures of my life? With studies and dire warnings and facts and figures!

The point is, there have always been people for whom milk has caused problems – now me, I just go “tsk, tsk, the pore things – how terrible for them!” However, what I do not like is someone telling me not to drink something that I have enjoyed all my life. Not only have I enjoyed it, I firmly believe that it is necessary to my well being. You know – out for a brisk walk, come back starving – open that refrigerator door, pull out the milk, pour, drink – ahhhhh – heaven. And I hate anyone coming in the way of these wonderful moments of bliss.

Like I said, it’s never harmed me and while so many of my friends who follow crazy diets every three months have problems with their blood pressure, their sugar levels, their aching joints, their mood swings, I’m happy as can be – and don’t try and tell me it’s not because of my daily addiction to the white stuff – I will not be convinced. As convinced as I am that five years from now, maybe less, there will be another bout of research to prove that milk really is good for you, surprise, surprise!

So I’ll leave those milk bashers alone, try to expunge what they preach from my consciousness and carry on coloring my world white with milky goodness. If anyone out there doesn’t like it – too bad. If they tell me I’m an addict – I don’t care, I’m not changing. If they come after me, I’ve got the white magic power on my side – so beware!