XY Inc. News Coverage: Company asked to bring new technologies

GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES, LTD;
Company asked to help bring new technologies to China's dairy industry

Genetic Technologies, Ltd., (GTG) (GNTLY) has been formally invited to take a leading role in bringing new technologies to China, as part of a multiyear program to significantly increase milk production in China.

The proposal was initially raised in the course of discussions between the
China National Animal Breeding Stock Export/Import Corp. (CABS) and GTG Executive Chairman Dr. Mervyn Jacobson, when Jacobson visited Beijing in July 2004, to be formally inducted as chief technology officer of the scientific advisory committee of CABS.

At that time, Jacobson also assisted CABS to gain access to leading
technology to assist in the sex preselection of livestock, as developed in the U.S. by a team which included the United States Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University, XY, Inc., and DAKO-Cytomation. This technology, now controlled by XY, Inc., worldwide, will enable CABS to significantly increase the number of female dairy calves born in China in the future. GTG's role would include helping to increase the genetic quality and production potential of such calves.

Currently, milk production in China cannot keep pace with consumer demand. China now has 5 times the population of the U.S. - but significantly fewer dairy cattle than the U.S. Further, a typical dairy cow in China produces just 20% of the milk produced per year by a typical dairy cow in the U.S. As a consequence, the consumption of milk and milk products (including cheese, butter, yogurt, etc.) per person in China today is less than 10% of the comparable consumption of a person in the West.

As China progressively opens its markets to the world, due attention is now being given to the introduction of new technologies and know-how to increase food production in China. Further, the Chinese government recently announced initiatives to encourage the introduction of new technologies - with biotechnology and new advances in agriculture specifically identified as deserving special support.

Therefore, the current plan to steadily increase milk production - first by increasing the absolute number of dairy cattle, and second by increasing the productive efficiency of the dairy herd by applying several approaches, including selectively breeding animals of higher genetic merit, improved feeding and stock management, and ensuring imported animals are of appropriate quality.

The project being developed by GTG anticipates the genetic testing of up to 3 million dairy cows and the gathering and collating of information on all dairy cattle - on a long-term basis. The database thus created will become a vital resource for monitoring key inherited characteristics in the dairy herd - including paternity and pedigree verification, the ability to genetically track all animals, and genetic screening for desirable production characteristics. The program will gather information on all animals in the existing herd and in future, will also evaluate animals being considered for purchase by China. All this information will become an invaluable tool to assist future breeding decisions by livestock managers in China.

The actual genetic testing will be performed by GTG on DNA samples shipped to the GTG laboratories in Australia. The tests will include some already available at GTG, plus new DNA tests recently developed by other co-operating researchers and testing companies in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and U.S. - with the overall program being coordinated for CABS by GTG.

Jacobson and GTG livestock genetics expert Dr. Tom Watson both recently visited Beijing, at which time CABS signed the required approvals for this significant project to commence forthwith.

This article was prepared by Genetics & Environmental Law Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2005, Genetics & Environmental Law Weekly via LawRx.com.

Story also appeared in the following publications: Law & Health Weekly, Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week, Genomics & Genetics Weekly, Health Business Week, Lab Law Weekly, Biotech Week, Life Science Weekly, Science Letter, Biotech Business Week & Health & Medicine Week.