February 27, 2006

Australian scientists makes breakthrough in cow stem cell technology

Australian scientists announced on Feb 13 that they have discovered a breakthrough in methods to isolate and maintain more numbers of stem cells in bovine embryos.

Dairy CRC scientists say this will affect breeding technologies and aid genetic improvement in dairy cattle.

One of the scientists on the project, Dr Paul Verma said "The crucial breakthrough made by the team was to generate more than 200,000 stem cells from a single embryo. Conventional methods produce less than 10,000 cells per embryo."

Stem cells are cells that have yet to form into a specific type of cell such as an eye, brain or liver cell. As embryonic stem cells can potentially produce every other type of cell, their range of applications is wide.

"We have been able to multiply the stem cells in the laboratory, creating stem cell lines. This is more efficient than continually sourcing stem cells from embryos. Previously, stem cell lines had been created for the human, the mouse and the primate, but not the cow," said Verma.

Stem cells can be used to improve udder health and lactation performance in the dairy cow. They can also be used to treat diseases or for vaccinations in animals.

Dairy CRC has recently filed an international patent application for the breakthrough technology. The research group has said in the future, stem cells will be tested to determine if they carry the genes likely to produce elite animals.

The stem cell research project is being carried out as part of Dairy CRC's Delivery Technologies Program which focuses on delivering improved genetics to the dairy industry through advanced reproductive technologies.