August 23, 2006

China aims to produce "super animals"

Chinese scientists are planning to produce "super animals" through bioengineering to increase stockbreeding output.

China's genome project has the potential to double its animal husbandry output,  said Li Ning, top scientist on the genetic breeding and cloning of agricultural animals research project.

Li, from the state key laboratory of agricultural bio-technology under China's University of Agriculture, said the research project is currently focusing on producing "super pigs" and "super chickens".

The "super animal" project is being undertaken by the China Agriculture University, the Hydrobiology Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Huazhong Agricultural University, CAS Kunming Zoology Institute and the Poultry Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

The project has recently completed its research into the spectrum of China's agricultural animals, collecting DNA samples, and proving the origin and evolution of many domestic animals, including 92 varieties of pigs and 37 varieties of cattles from across China, Li said.

China's abundant genetic resources would benefit livestock breeding and improve the quality of its meats, said Li.

He added that the project would also be beneficial to the country's species resources protection, and would contribute to evolution research.

The "super animal" project follows the government's "super rice" project started in 1996 to improve the production and quality of rice.