Gene-Edited Cow Produces Human Insulin in Milk, Offering Hope for Affordable Diabetes Treatment

Scientists from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Universidade de São Paulo have genetically modified a cow to produce human insulin in its milk. The researchers inserted a segment of human DNA coding for proinsulin into the cell nuclei of ten cow embryos, resulting in one gene-edited calf. Once matured and impregnated, the cow produced milk containing both proinsulin and insulin. The cow produced a gram of insulin per liter of milk, a significant quantity considering the small dosage required. The team is now planning to scale up the process, potentially outcompeting other methods of insulin production.