Why do we need GM chickens? | Helen Sang | TEDxGlasgow

you may not need an introduction to this

you may not need an introduction to this sheep this is dolly the cloned sheep so

sheep this is dolly the cloned sheep so

sheep this is dolly the cloned sheep so just over 20 years ago when Dolly the

just over 20 years ago when Dolly the

just over 20 years ago when Dolly the sheep was introduced to the world the

sheep was introduced to the world the

sheep was introduced to the world the world’s press descended on the Roslin

world’s press descended on the Roslin

world’s press descended on the Roslin Institute where I work the Roslin

Institute where I work the Roslin

Institute where I work the Roslin Institute is a long-established

Institute is a long-established

Institute is a long-established Research Institute where we undertake

Research Institute where we undertake

Research Institute where we undertake research into farm animal production

research into farm animal production

research into farm animal production health and welfare but Dolly the sheep

health and welfare but Dolly the sheep

health and welfare but Dolly the sheep made the Roslin Institute world famous I

made the Roslin Institute world famous I

made the Roslin Institute world famous I think the whole idea of being able to

think the whole idea of being able to

think the whole idea of being able to make muddled copies of an animal really

make muddled copies of an animal really

make muddled copies of an animal really intrigued everybody and especially when

intrigued everybody and especially when

intrigued everybody and especially when people started to talk about whether we

people started to talk about whether we

people started to talk about whether we could apply the cloning technology to

could apply the cloning technology to

could apply the cloning technology to human beings well of course I think that

human beings well of course I think that

human beings well of course I think that this is rather distracted us from

this is rather distracted us from

this is rather distracted us from actually the main purpose behind the

actually the main purpose behind the

actually the main purpose behind the cloning of Dolly the sheep the purpose

cloning of Dolly the sheep the purpose

cloning of Dolly the sheep the purpose was to develop a technology for making

was to develop a technology for making

was to develop a technology for making genetically modified sheep and other

genetically modified sheep and other

genetically modified sheep and other farm animals and at that time there’s a

farm animals and at that time there’s a

farm animals and at that time there’s a lot of interests in the potential of

lot of interests in the potential of

lot of interests in the potential of genetic modification to make animals

genetic modification to make animals

genetic modification to make animals give animals new characteristics new

give animals new characteristics new

give animals new characteristics new genes and in the case of dolly that was

genes and in the case of dolly that was

genes and in the case of dolly that was part of a program where they’re trying

part of a program where they’re trying

part of a program where they’re trying to make new protein medicines in the

to make new protein medicines in the

to make new protein medicines in the milk of genetically modified sheep for

milk of genetically modified sheep for

milk of genetically modified sheep for example factor 9 which is used to treat

example factor 9 which is used to treat

example factor 9 which is used to treat a blood clotting disease well I was

a blood clotting disease well I was

a blood clotting disease well I was working at the Roslin Institute at the

working at the Roslin Institute at the

working at the Roslin Institute at the time and I was also working on

time and I was also working on

time and I was also working on developing technology for a genetic

developing technology for a genetic

developing technology for a genetic modification but I was working on a

modification but I was working on a

modification but I was working on a different farm animal I was working on

different farm animal I was working on

different farm animal I was working on the chicken and this is one of my

the chicken and this is one of my

the chicken and this is one of my chickens a very fine-looking animal and

chickens a very fine-looking animal and

chickens a very fine-looking animal and he is in fact genetically modified so we

he is in fact genetically modified so we

he is in fact genetically modified so we were developing a technology we had to

were developing a technology we had to

were developing a technology we had to work make different inventions to

work make different inventions to

work make different inventions to genetically modified chickens compared

genetically modified chickens compared

genetically modified chickens compared to sheep but this is a genetically

to sheep but this is a genetically

to sheep but this is a genetically modified chicken and if you looked at a

modified chicken and if you looked at a

modified chicken and if you looked at a couple of his chicks which I show here

couple of his chicks which I show here

couple of his chicks which I show here we introduced a new gene which was

we introduced a new gene which was

we introduced a new gene which was passed on to one of these chicks and not

passed on to one of these chicks and not

passed on to one of these chicks and not the other and I think you can spot the

the other and I think you can spot the

the other and I think you can spot the one that got did the genetic

one that got did the genetic

one that got did the genetic modification so these chicks are

modification so these chicks are

modification so these chicks are illuminated by a fluorescent light and

illuminated by a fluorescent light and

illuminated by a fluorescent light and we added a new gene the

we added a new gene the

we added a new gene the codes for a protein called green

codes for a protein called green

codes for a protein called green fluorescent protein so this chick

fluorescent protein so this chick

fluorescent protein so this chick expresses a new protein and it glows

expresses a new protein and it glows

expresses a new protein and it glows green in fluorescent light but had no

green in fluorescent light but had no

green in fluorescent light but had no other effect on the on the chicken and

other effect on the on the chicken and

other effect on the on the chicken and it was really just as part of the

it was really just as part of the

it was really just as part of the development of the technology that we

development of the technology that we

development of the technology that we used that gene that we could identify

used that gene that we could identify

used that gene that we could identify easily by using the illumination to see

easily by using the illumination to see

easily by using the illumination to see the green fluorescence but why are we

the green fluorescence but why are we

the green fluorescence but why are we developing this technology and what do

developing this technology and what do

developing this technology and what do we think are the potential values of

we think are the potential values of

we think are the potential values of using genetic modification well I have

using genetic modification well I have

using genetic modification well I have to say that when people ask me what I

to say that when people ask me what I

to say that when people ask me what I carry out research on and I say chickens

carry out research on and I say chickens

carry out research on and I say chickens I usually get a bit of a snicker no

I usually get a bit of a snicker no

I usually get a bit of a snicker no people don’t take chicken so seriously

people don’t take chicken so seriously

people don’t take chicken so seriously as I think they should so here are some

as I think they should so here are some

as I think they should so here are some of the chicks a few few tricks that we

of the chicks a few few tricks that we

of the chicks a few few tricks that we hatched at the Institute one day my

hatched at the Institute one day my

hatched at the Institute one day my photo very cute little fluffy chicks but

photo very cute little fluffy chicks but

photo very cute little fluffy chicks but you know how many chicks are hatched in

you know how many chicks are hatched in

you know how many chicks are hatched in the world a year over 50 billion just

the world a year over 50 billion just

the world a year over 50 billion just think about it fifty billion chickens

think about it fifty billion chickens

think about it fifty billion chickens most of those are chickens from eat but

most of those are chickens from eat but

most of those are chickens from eat but they’re also the chickens for producing

they’re also the chickens for producing

they’re also the chickens for producing eggs so the chicken is a really

eggs so the chicken is a really

eggs so the chicken is a really important food animal to people

important food animal to people

important food animal to people worldwide it’s a healthy food and it’s

worldwide it’s a healthy food and it’s

worldwide it’s a healthy food and it’s acceptable across many cultures but if

acceptable across many cultures but if

acceptable across many cultures but if we think about 50 billion chickens now

we think about 50 billion chickens now

we think about 50 billion chickens now that’s about if we look at this graph

that’s about if we look at this graph

that’s about if we look at this graph it’s a graph for the population of the

it’s a graph for the population of the

it’s a graph for the population of the world it’s in 2015 the population of the

world it’s in 2015 the population of the

world it’s in 2015 the population of the world was estimated to be about 7.3

world was estimated to be about 7.3

world was estimated to be about 7.3 billion 50 billion chickens it’s about

billion 50 billion chickens it’s about

billion 50 billion chickens it’s about seven chickens per person per year but

seven chickens per person per year but

seven chickens per person per year but also if we look at this graph and this

also if we look at this graph and this

also if we look at this graph and this is data from the United Nations we know

is data from the United Nations we know

is data from the United Nations we know that the population of the world is

that the population of the world is

that the population of the world is going to be increasing up to eleven

going to be increasing up to eleven

going to be increasing up to eleven point two billion in 2100 yes or nine

point two billion in 2100 yes or nine

point two billion in 2100 yes or nine point seven billion in 2050 so how are

point seven billion in 2050 so how are

point seven billion in 2050 so how are we going to keep up with the demand for

we going to keep up with the demand for

we going to keep up with the demand for food and that’s one of the big

food and that’s one of the big

food and that’s one of the big challenges now and this graph here is

challenges now and this graph here is

challenges now and this graph here is from the Gates Foundation website and it

from the Gates Foundation website and it

from the Gates Foundation website and it shows the predicted increase in demand

shows the predicted increase in demand

shows the predicted increase in demand for meat and the demand for meat is

for meat and the demand for meat is

for meat and the demand for meat is going to go up for all of the animals

going to go up for all of the animals

going to go up for all of the animals that we eat beef cattle mutton pork but

that we eat beef cattle mutton pork but

that we eat beef cattle mutton pork but particularly chickens chicken meat and

particularly chickens chicken meat and

particularly chickens chicken meat and chicken eggs and it’s estimated that by

chicken eggs and it’s estimated that by

chicken eggs and it’s estimated that by 2050 we only

2050 we only

2050 we only 170 percent more chicken meat to meet

170 percent more chicken meat to meet

170 percent more chicken meat to meet growing demand so how would we achieve

growing demand so how would we achieve

growing demand so how would we achieve that in the past well we’ve done it my

that in the past well we’ve done it my

that in the past well we’ve done it my genetic breeding and here we can see on

genetic breeding and here we can see on

genetic breeding and here we can see on the left the chicken from 1950 and it’s

the left the chicken from 1950 and it’s

the left the chicken from 1950 and it’s rather scrawny beast and 2014 they’re

rather scrawny beast and 2014 they’re

rather scrawny beast and 2014 they’re much bigger we’ve used genetic selection

much bigger we’ve used genetic selection

much bigger we’ve used genetic selection to produce chickens that are much Meteor

to produce chickens that are much Meteor

to produce chickens that are much Meteor and we’ve also made them much more

and we’ve also made them much more

and we’ve also made them much more efficient in producing meat from food so

efficient in producing meat from food so

efficient in producing meat from food so in 1950 we will get 330 kilograms of

in 1950 we will get 330 kilograms of

in 1950 we will get 330 kilograms of meat per ton of feed but by 2014 we get

meat per ton of feed but by 2014 we get

meat per ton of feed but by 2014 we get 590 kilograms of chicken meat per ton of

590 kilograms of chicken meat per ton of

590 kilograms of chicken meat per ton of feed so this is more efficient so we

feed so this is more efficient so we

feed so this is more efficient so we need to use less grain which means we

need to use less grain which means we

need to use less grain which means we need to use less land to produce the

need to use less land to produce the

need to use less land to produce the food that we want that is the animal

food that we want that is the animal

food that we want that is the animal food and we know that as people get

food and we know that as people get

food and we know that as people get gradually wealthier they will want to

gradually wealthier they will want to

gradually wealthier they will want to eat more meat but there’s a real problem

eat more meat but there’s a real problem

eat more meat but there’s a real problem in producing farm animals and although

in producing farm animals and although

in producing farm animals and although we can select use genetics to select

we can select use genetics to select

we can select use genetics to select those animals to grow more to be more

those animals to grow more to be more

those animals to grow more to be more efficient in the use of the feed we give

efficient in the use of the feed we give

efficient in the use of the feed we give them they’re threatened by many diseases

them they’re threatened by many diseases

them they’re threatened by many diseases and in particular I’m particularly

and in particular I’m particularly

and in particular I’m particularly interested in the potential threat of

interested in the potential threat of

interested in the potential threat of bird flu so here we can see in the

bird flu so here we can see in the

bird flu so here we can see in the middle that’s a duck and we know that

middle that’s a duck and we know that

middle that’s a duck and we know that bird flu is a disease that is present in

bird flu is a disease that is present in

bird flu is a disease that is present in birds in wild birds and particular

birds in wild birds and particular

birds in wild birds and particular author birds so it’s not going to go

author birds so it’s not going to go

author birds so it’s not going to go away it’s present in those wild birds we

away it’s present in those wild birds we

away it’s present in those wild birds we can’t control their the wild the

can’t control their the wild the

can’t control their the wild the inflation of wild birds and also they

inflation of wild birds and also they

inflation of wild birds and also they migrate so they spread bird flu around

migrate so they spread bird flu around

migrate so they spread bird flu around the world and we also know something

the world and we also know something

the world and we also know something else about bird flu we know that it can

else about bird flu we know that it can

else about bird flu we know that it can transfer from ducks to chickens but also

transfer from ducks to chickens but also

transfer from ducks to chickens but also to mammals so bird flu can infect a

to mammals so bird flu can infect a

to mammals so bird flu can infect a whole range of mammals that you can see

whole range of mammals that you can see

whole range of mammals that you can see here from whales bats horses dogs cats

here from whales bats horses dogs cats

here from whales bats horses dogs cats pigs and importantly humans so bird flu

pigs and importantly humans so bird flu

pigs and importantly humans so bird flu is a problem for production of chickens

is a problem for production of chickens

is a problem for production of chickens because they catch it from the wild

because they catch it from the wild

because they catch it from the wild water birds and the migrating birds but

water birds and the migrating birds but

water birds and the migrating birds but it’s also a problem for us because we

it’s also a problem for us because we

it’s also a problem for us because we know from studies of the bird flu virus

know from studies of the bird flu virus

know from studies of the bird flu virus that and human flu virus is that they

that and human flu virus is that they

that and human flu virus is that they are related so the pan

are related so the pan

are related so the pan they make human flu that we get going

they make human flu that we get going

they make human flu that we get going around the world can often come from

around the world can often come from

around the world can often come from bird flu so we need to think about how

bird flu so we need to think about how

bird flu so we need to think about how we control bird flu for the welfare of

we control bird flu for the welfare of

we control bird flu for the welfare of chickens and the production of chickens

chickens and the production of chickens

chickens and the production of chickens but also from human health so how do we

but also from human health so how do we

but also from human health so how do we control it well I’m afraid at the moment

control it well I’m afraid at the moment

control it well I’m afraid at the moment if there’s a bird flu outbreak the main

if there’s a bird flu outbreak the main

if there’s a bird flu outbreak the main way we control it is by slaughtering the

way we control it is by slaughtering the

way we control it is by slaughtering the chickens to stop spread of the disease

chickens to stop spread of the disease

chickens to stop spread of the disease and that can have huge consequences so

and that can have huge consequences so

and that can have huge consequences so this is information from an outbreak in

this is information from an outbreak in

this is information from an outbreak in the u.s. in 2014 where bird flu was

the u.s. in 2014 where bird flu was

the u.s. in 2014 where bird flu was spread by birds migrating over the

spread by birds migrating over the

spread by birds migrating over the Arctic Circle and down through the North

Arctic Circle and down through the North

Arctic Circle and down through the North America and there the losses of birds

America and there the losses of birds

America and there the losses of birds were 48 point 1 million chickens and

were 48 point 1 million chickens and

were 48 point 1 million chickens and there was a consequent 80% increase in

there was a consequent 80% increase in

there was a consequent 80% increase in price of eggs and the great cost of dead

price of eggs and the great cost of dead

price of eggs and the great cost of dead poultry / 191 million and big economic

poultry / 191 million and big economic

poultry / 191 million and big economic damage from the outbreak so how can we

damage from the outbreak so how can we

damage from the outbreak so how can we deal with this we can vaccinate chickens

deal with this we can vaccinate chickens

deal with this we can vaccinate chickens like we do humans but there isn’t a

like we do humans but there isn’t a

like we do humans but there isn’t a proper VAX a good vaccine no available

proper VAX a good vaccine no available

proper VAX a good vaccine no available we can shut the chickens away which is

we can shut the chickens away which is

we can shut the chickens away which is actually what we’ve had to do in the UK

actually what we’ve had to do in the UK

actually what we’ve had to do in the UK this year but that doesn’t isn’t

this year but that doesn’t isn’t

this year but that doesn’t isn’t compatible with free-range but which

compatible with free-range but which

compatible with free-range but which we’re very key so this is where the work

we’re very key so this is where the work

we’re very key so this is where the work that was mentioned very briefly at the

that was mentioned very briefly at the

that was mentioned very briefly at the beginning with my colleague Lawrence

beginning with my colleague Lawrence

beginning with my colleague Lawrence highly-developed so he is a scientist at

highly-developed so he is a scientist at

highly-developed so he is a scientist at Cambridge University and he works on the

Cambridge University and he works on the

Cambridge University and he works on the flu virus and particularly bird flu

flu virus and particularly bird flu

flu virus and particularly bird flu virus and he developed a new gene that

virus and he developed a new gene that

virus and he developed a new gene that when he introduced it into chicken cells

when he introduced it into chicken cells

when he introduced it into chicken cells would stop the chicken cells being

would stop the chicken cells being

would stop the chicken cells being inflected with flu virus so he came to

inflected with flu virus so he came to

inflected with flu virus so he came to me and he said can we make genetically

me and he said can we make genetically

me and he said can we make genetically modified chickens with this new gene and

modified chickens with this new gene and

modified chickens with this new gene and we put the gene into chickens and we

we put the gene into chickens and we

we put the gene into chickens and we then did an experiment so we had a group

then did an experiment so we had a group

then did an experiment so we had a group of chickens that were her usual chickens

of chickens that were her usual chickens

of chickens that were her usual chickens and then we had brothers and sisters of

and then we had brothers and sisters of

and then we had brothers and sisters of those chickens that were genetically

those chickens that were genetically

those chickens that were genetically modified and we infected them with flu

modified and we infected them with flu

modified and we infected them with flu virus and the exciting result was that

virus and the exciting result was that

virus and the exciting result was that the the non-gm chickens infected got

the the non-gm chickens infected got

the the non-gm chickens infected got were infected and past that flu virus

were infected and past that flu virus

were infected and past that flu virus onto the other chickens but when we

onto the other chickens but when we

onto the other chickens but when we looked at

looked at

looked at the chickens they were cool house with

the chickens they were cool house with

the chickens they were cool house with the chickens that were genetically

the chickens that were genetically

the chickens that were genetically modified after infection with flu they

modified after infection with flu they

modified after infection with flu they did not pass the disease on so this is

did not pass the disease on so this is

did not pass the disease on so this is really one step on the way to using

really one step on the way to using

really one step on the way to using genetic modification to make birds

genetic modification to make birds

genetic modification to make birds resistant to flu but the importance I

resistant to flu but the importance I

resistant to flu but the importance I think of this was that it demonstrated

think of this was that it demonstrated

think of this was that it demonstrated are used for genetic modification to

are used for genetic modification to

are used for genetic modification to give the birds a characteristic which

give the birds a characteristic which

give the birds a characteristic which they wouldn’t have otherwise we couldn’t

they wouldn’t have otherwise we couldn’t

they wouldn’t have otherwise we couldn’t make chickens resistant to bird flu by

make chickens resistant to bird flu by

make chickens resistant to bird flu by our normal breeding strategies and as I

our normal breeding strategies and as I

our normal breeding strategies and as I say bird flus are really a really big

say bird flus are really a really big

say bird flus are really a really big challenge to the production of chickens

challenge to the production of chickens

challenge to the production of chickens so here a whole range of farmed animals

so here a whole range of farmed animals

so here a whole range of farmed animals and diseases of all sorts are a real

and diseases of all sorts are a real

and diseases of all sorts are a real problem in producing farm animals

problem in producing farm animals

problem in producing farm animals they’re a problem for smallholder

they’re a problem for smallholder

they’re a problem for smallholder farmers as well as for large-scale

farmers as well as for large-scale

farmers as well as for large-scale farmers they’re a problem for free-range

farmers they’re a problem for free-range

farmers they’re a problem for free-range farmers and for intensive farmers and we

farmers and for intensive farmers and we

farmers and for intensive farmers and we need to think about how we can control

need to think about how we can control

need to think about how we can control all these diseases too in terms of

all these diseases too in terms of

all these diseases too in terms of improving the welfare of the animals and

improving the welfare of the animals and

improving the welfare of the animals and the business of the farmers and to stop

the business of the farmers and to stop

the business of the farmers and to stop economic losses and also to deal with

economic losses and also to deal with

economic losses and also to deal with the challenge of producing all the food

the challenge of producing all the food

the challenge of producing all the food that we’re going to require as the

that we’re going to require as the

that we’re going to require as the population of the world inexorably

population of the world inexorably

population of the world inexorably increases over the next decades

increases over the next decades

increases over the next decades so in Scotland we’ve been developing

so in Scotland we’ve been developing

so in Scotland we’ve been developing this genetic modification technology in

this genetic modification technology in

this genetic modification technology in chickens and other farm animal species

chickens and other farm animal species

chickens and other farm animal species and it is one of the ways that we could

and it is one of the ways that we could

and it is one of the ways that we could shape use to control disease which is

shape use to control disease which is

shape use to control disease which is only going to become a bigger challenge

only going to become a bigger challenge

only going to become a bigger challenge into the face of for example climate

into the face of for example climate

into the face of for example climate change and proteins and in Scotland

change and proteins and in Scotland

change and proteins and in Scotland Dolly the sheep is held up as an example

Dolly the sheep is held up as an example

Dolly the sheep is held up as an example of innovation in science and technology

of innovation in science and technology

of innovation in science and technology but also in Scotland we’re not allowed

but also in Scotland we’re not allowed

but also in Scotland we’re not allowed to produce GM food so I think I’d like

to produce GM food so I think I’d like

to produce GM food so I think I’d like to leave you with the question today

to leave you with the question today

to leave you with the question today should we be leading the world in these

should we be leading the world in these

should we be leading the world in these technologies in a responsible way to

technologies in a responsible way to

technologies in a responsible way to solve these problems relate

solve these problems relate

solve these problems relate to food production or should we be

to food production or should we be

to food production or should we be stepping back and not get involved and

stepping back and not get involved and

stepping back and not get involved and taking these new technologies forward

taking these new technologies forward

taking these new technologies forward thank