The plan is to eliminate all cow brains and spinal cords from all animals? feeds in effort to further reduce the chance for spreading of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). This `will make an already small risk even smaller,` acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach says in a press release.
The new proposal would reduce the risk of infection by 90 percent, and the rules should take effect sometime next year following a public comment period, according to Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the FDA`s Center for Veterinary Medicine.
The myostatin gene and its relevance to livestock animals
Myostatin, also known as growth differentiation factor 8, a member of the transforming growth factorâ€beta superâ€family, is a negative regulator of muscle development. Myostatin acts at key points during pre†and postâ€natal life of amniotes that ultimately determine the overall muscle mass of an animal. A fascinating summary about the current an overview of mechanisms of action and its potential relevance in livestock animals.
