‘Live tests on genetically modified animals may tackle drug resistance’

Genetically modified farm animals could be bred in increasing numbers to tackle problems like drug resistance, a leading scientist has said.

UK-based Stem cell geneticist Professor Robin Lovell-Badge predicted an increase in the use of “non-conventional” animals for live tests over the next few years.

The head of stem cell biology and developmental genetics at the National Institute for Medical Research said beasts of burden could allow genetic research to be directed towards new areas like the increasing problem of drug resistance.

He said technology is fuelling a rise in the number of genetically-altered animals which “allows us to design hopefully cleverer experiments to get to the bottom of a particular genetic disease and to create better models for other types of human disease”.

Fears have long been raised that antibiotics are being routinely used on healthy animals — fuelling diseases resistance that has a knock-on effect on human health.