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A state-owned science company wants to use milk from genetically engineered cattle in its commercial products.
AgResearch, which keeps about 90 GE cows at Ruakura, also wants to be able to hold the cattle and other transgenic animals anywhere in the country.
General manager of applied biotechnologies Dr Jimmie Suttie said scientists wanted permission to use genetic material from other species, including synthetic human genes, in cattle, sheep and goats at other sites.
At present AgResearch has to keep its GE livestock in registered premises at its Ruakura campus, where it has raised GE cows for about eight years.
Some of the cows contain a human gene that allows them to produce milk with a human protein that could be extracted for use in trials to see if it would be of use in pharmaceuticals.
Stakeholders, including iwi and industry groups, were yesterday told AgResearch would apply to the Environmental Risk Management Agency in April for permission to continue and expand its transgenic livestock programme.
"We'll also be adding goats to the list of animals that we can work with," said Dr Suttie.
- NZPA
