Targeted transgenics from the creators of Dolly

PPL Therapeutics (Edinburgh, UK) have announced the birth of two lambs (Cupid and Diana) carrying a gene that was inserted at a specific chromosomal site. It has been possible to create transgenic livestock animals for some time, but the novelty of the new technique lies in the combination of two techniques: (1) replacing a specific gene in vitro, followed by (2) nuclear transfer (a la Dolly). PPL are intending to use this technology to produce large amounts of human proteins, uncontaminated by their ovine or bovine equivalents, in the milk of farm animals. One potential application is the production of human serum albumin, used to treat burn victims. This is currently produced from human serum.