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US uses genetic technology to accelerate pig growth

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Professor Robert Schwartz and other researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, USA, have used genetic technology to increase pig growth speed by 40%, speeding up the time for pork to reach the market and reducing feeding costs. Recently, according to a report in the journal Nature Biology, the key to this technology is the use of a synthetic chemical substance that can make piglets' pituitary glands secrete more growth hormone than those of ordinary pigs. The researchers inserted this chemical substance into biodegradable DNA fragments, and then injected the DNA fragments containing this

Professor Robert Schwartz and other researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, USA, have used genetic technology to increase pig growth speed by 40%, speeding up the time for pork to reach the market and reducing feeding costs.

Recently, according to a report in the journal Nature Biology, the key to this technology is the use of a synthetic chemical substance that can make piglets' pituitary glands secrete more growth hormone than those of ordinary pigs. The researchers inserted this chemical substance into biodegradable DNA fragments, and then injected the DNA fragments containing this chemical substance into the legs of piglets only two weeks old. Two months after injection, the pigs' body weight reached 42 kg, while by contrast ordinary pigs weighed only 30 kg. This technology has advanced the time for pigs to be ready for market.

However, scientists point out that further research is still needed on the effects of this method, in order to understand whether this pork is safe for human consumption, and whether this method will have long-term negative effects on animals.

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