[Transgenesis; applications, welfare and ethics]

Biomedical proteins and proteins having a nutritional function can be produced in large quantities (as well as cheap) in the mammary gland of mammals such as cows. Several of these proteins are of major economic importance and will result in several new uses for milk. For example, milk of genetically modified cows will be produced especially for branches of the pharmaceutical industry or for the baby food industry. Production of these new proteins will not have any injurious effects on the animal as proteins in the mammary gland are characterised by the fact that they follow a one-way course.