Hong Kong creates GM rice to fight bird flu

A GM rice that could provide protection for chickens from the bird flu virus has been created, said scientists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The rice contains genetic material from the traditional medicine plant called ''Yuzhu'', which has been found to inhibit the growth of viruses such as the lethal H5N1.

The scientists said they had produced a small quantity of the GM rice which had been tested in a laboratory dish in a solution with monkey cells and the H5N1 virus.

During the experiment, the grain prevented the monkey cell from being destroyed by the virus, according to research team leader Samuel Sun.

The research team is now looking to test the grain on birds, but farms and universities were unwilling to host the experiment due to safety concerns.

However, Sun has contacted some universities in China to try to find somewhere to perform the experiment and was awaiting responses.