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Genetically Modified Goats Made In China Have Allergy Free Milk

Would you drink it?
Genetically modified goats create milk without a common allergen.
Getty Images/Moment RM
Genetically modified goats create milk without a common allergen.

For anyone who's dairy intolerant, the thought of a soft cheese, melting ice cream or creamy milkshake is enough to make you sweat.

Yes, you want it so bad, but no, the cramps, pain and other symptoms aren't worth it.

Some genetically modified goats in China might be about to change that for you. Scientists have tweaked the goats so their milk contains far less of the common allergen whey protein beta-lactoglobulin.

So, GM goat's milk smoothies anyone?

Researchers across veterinary science, animal biotechnology and animal evolution disrupted the gene that creates beta-lactoglobulin by re-sequencing it using a technique called homologous recombination along with cloning and creating a new goat using a GM ovum and a donor nucleus, in a process called somatic cell nuclear transfer.

If you don't follow any of that, basically they found a way to turn down the gene creating the allergen, and then used complex techniques to create more goats with that ability.

"Generally, goat milk has more advantages than the milk of other species with respect to its composition, biological traits and nutritive value. However, milk allergen has limited the prevalence of goat milk production for humans," the paper said.

Researchers said studies would continue into the production of hypo-allergenic goat milk, which so far, has only been tested on other animals.

So yay for a future where you can enjoy milkshakes any way you want.

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