Comment

Comment by Scott Strumello on December 27, 2007 at 8:03pm

This is not the first time this has been done; several years ago, Canadian researchers also did this with with safflowers. Although most people give the idea of this as a cure about as much credibility has the hundreds of other "cures" offered over the past 50 years, the fact is this could be a very promising technology for the production of insulin. For example, today many children in remote parts of the world die because insulin is primarily manufactured in places like Europe, North and South America, and developed countries in the Pacific Rim, but due to poor transportation systems and a variety of logistical challenges, it can be tough to get insulin to patients in these places. But what if it could be made reliably by planting a seed and using a plant extract, then even kids in poor places might have a fighting chance. This is consistent with the IDF's Life for a Child program ideals, too!

Comment by Neal on December 20, 2007 at 6:13pm

A lot of research is going on in other areas along these lines such as insulin production through cow & camel milk as well as soybeans? I'm always weary of these stories in terms of human efficacy and who would fund the eradication or simplification of such a profitable disease? The cure will have to be expensive no matter how easy it or difficult it proves to be. Big-pharma has so much money invested in R&D, marketing, etc.Tthey'd find a way to hijack the process through some patent loophole and cash in. Still definitely cool to see what researchers are up to.

Comment by die die my darling on December 17, 2007 at 2:32pm

hmm I wonder why you cannot get a hold of them?

Comment by Manny Hernandez on December 16, 2007 at 12:39pm

Thanks for posting this, Jennifer! Since I live next door to UCF, I have been trying to get a hold of this research group without any success. What matters is that the research keeps moving forward and the same success they got with mice are obtained with people.