Produced in the liver, human serum albumin (HSA) is a plasma protein used to help transport various hormones, steroids, and fatty acids in the bloodstream. For some people, however, HSA is needed on an emergency basis to replenish blood volume following trauma. The combination of albumin and liquid restores blood pressure better than saline alone when there is inadequate blood for transfusion available. The same applies for treatment of extensive burns.
For these patients, and the doctors who treat them, a new variety of genetically engineered rice is welcome news. Researchers in China have discovered a way to synthesize the protein in a species of rice called Oryza sativa, and, according to their report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, the rice makes HSA pretty reliably. The HSA produced from the rice is quite similar to normal human albumin in both structure and function.
Since worldwide demand for HSA tops 500 tons per year, the recent breakthrough marks just another benefit of genetic engineering. But for ACSH's Dr. Ruth Kava, it also raises a question: Will anti-GM activists attack this rice as well?
ACSH's Dr. Gilbert Ross notes that it s quite interesting to observe that those who oppose biotech (GM) agriculture do not come out against genetically engineered pharmaceuticals. Such activists are savvy about politics and public relations," he says, "but they actually have no scientific expertise. They realize that coming out against genetically engineered drugs would lose them support in the public sector.
