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© UnknownA GM pink featherless chicken developed by Israeli geneticist Avigdor Cahaner
Scientists have genetically modified chickens to prevent the transmission of avian influenza, an innovation that could cut the risk of a lethal strain crossing to the human population and boost the poultry industry.

The chickens created at Cambridge and Edinburgh universities produce a genetic "decoy" molecule that mimics part of the replication machinery of the flu virus. This diverts the enzyme required for the virus to pass between cells - and stops the infection.

Although GM birds could still succumb when injected with the lethal H5N1 strain, they never passed the infection on to healthy cagemates, even those without genetic modification.

The research appears in the journal Science.

Apart from their flu protection, the GM birds are indistinguishable from non- GM chickens of the same breed. Laurence Tilney of Cambridge university said they would be safe to eat.

Read full article on FT.com.