Medicine comes in lots of different packages.
Medicine
comes
in
lots
of
different
packages
.
Painkillers in a tablet can make your headache go away.
Painkillers
in
a
tablet
can
make
your
headache
go
away
.
Antibiotic cream from a tube can prevent your cuts from becoming infected.
Antibiotic
cream
from
a
tube
can
prevent
your
cuts
from
becoming
infected
.
But can medicine come packaged in chicken eggs?
But
can
medicine
come
packaged
in
chicken
eggs
?
A team of scientists from Scotland say "yes".
A
team
of
scientists
from
Scotland
say
``
yes
''
.
They've engineered special chickens that lay eggs with disease-treating drugs inside.
They
've
engineered
special
chickens
that
lay
eggs
with
disease-treating
drugs
inside
.
These eggs come from chickens that have been engineered to produce certain drugs inside their egg whites.
These
eggs
come
from
chickens
that
have
been
engineered
to
produce
certain
drugs
inside
their
egg
whites
.
These drugs are made of molecules called proteins.
These
drugs
are
made
of
molecules
called
proteins
.
Animals make thousands of proteins--they're the main element in skin, hair, milk and meat.
Animals
make
thousands
of
proteins
--
they
're
the
main
element
in
skin
,
hair
,
milk
and
meat
.
Since animals can make proteins easily, they're good candidates for making protein drugs.
Since
animals
can
make
proteins
easily
,
they
're
good
candidates
for
making
protein
drugs
.
Researchers have already made cows, sheep and goats produce protein drugs in their milk.
Researchers
have
already
made
cows
,
sheep
and
goats
produce
protein
drugs
in
their
milk
.
But chickens are cheaper to take care of, need less room, and grow faster than these other animals.
But
chickens
are
cheaper
to
take
care
of
,
need
less
room
,
and
grow
faster
than
these
other
animals
.
Those qualities could make chickens a better choice to become living drug factories, says Simon Lillico of the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh, Scotland.
Those
qualities
could
make
chickens
a
better
choice
to
become
living
drug
factories
,
says
Simon
Lillico
of
the
Roslin
Institute
near
Edinburgh
,
Scotland
.
Lillico and a team of researchers changed chickens' DNA--the code that tells cells how to make proteins--so that the birds' cells made two protein drugs.
Lillico
and
a
team
of
researchers
changed
chickens
'
DNA
--
the
code
that
tells
cells
how
to
make
proteins
--
so
that
the
birds
'
cells
made
two
protein
drugs
.
One drug can treat skin cancer, and the other treats a nerve disease called multiple sclerosis.
One
drug
can
treat
skin
cancer
,
and
the
other
treats
a
nerve
disease
called
multiple
sclerosis
.
The scientists changed the chickens' DNA so that the birds made these drugs only in their egg whites.
The
scientists
changed
the
chickens
'
DNA
so
that
the
birds
made
these
drugs
only
in
their
egg
whites
.
This protects the chickens' bodies from the drugs' possible harmful effects and makes it easy for scientists to collect the drugs.
This
protects
the
chickens
'
bodies
from
the
drugs
'
possible
harmful
effects
and
makes
it
easy
for
scientists
to
collect
the
drugs
.
Medicine comes in lots of different packages. Painkillers in a tablet can make your headache go away. Antibiotic cream from a tube can prevent your cuts from becoming infected. But can medicine come packaged in chicken eggs?  A team of scientists from Scotland say "yes". They've engineered special chickens that lay eggs with disease-treating drugs inside.  These eggs come from chickens that have been engineered to produce certain drugs inside their egg whites.  These drugs are made of molecules called proteins. Animals make thousands of proteins--they're the main element in skin, hair, milk and meat. Since animals can make proteins easily, they're good candidates for making protein drugs.  Researchers have already made cows, sheep and goats produce protein drugs in their milk. But chickens are cheaper to take care of, need less room, and grow faster than these other animals. Those qualities could make chickens a better choice to become living drug factories, says Simon Lillico of the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh, Scotland.  Lillico and a team of researchers changed chickens' DNA--the code that tells cells how to make proteins--so that the birds' cells made two protein drugs. One drug can treat skin cancer, and the other treats a nerve disease called multiple sclerosis.  The scientists changed the chickens' DNA so that the birds made these drugs only in their egg whites. This protects the chickens' bodies from the drugs' possible harmful effects and makes it easy for scientists to collect the drugs.