BEAVERTON, OREGON-- His name is ANDi - "inserted DNA," spelled backwards. And he's the first genetically modified primate in the world.

In order to come up with one ANDi, the researchers modified and fertilized more than 200 monkey eggs. Five pregnancies and three live births resulted. ANDi, born October 2, 2000 was the only one who carried the modified gene.

The tiny rhesus monkey is described as being robust, playing normally with his two roommates. He lives at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center at the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon.

ANDi's modified DNA consists of a simple marker gene, designed to be easily identified within his genetic blueprint. But, the researchers hope the same modification method will lead to other laboratory animals carrying genes associated with specific medical conditions.

That would give doctors the opportunity to experiment with blocking the conditions at the genetic level.

Closer to home

Researchers have been inserting genes into mice for more than 25 years, but the comparisons to be made between mice and humans are limited. Dr. Gerald Schatten, who led the research, says because monkeys are our close genetic cousins, they may give scientists a better idea of how human diseases develop.

Schatten calls this an extraordinary moment in the history of humans. But others were quick to condemn the research.

Dr. Ray Greek, spokesperson for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, says the disease research can already be done at the cellular level.

He says he thinks the publicity will result in a lot of funding for the research center, but that in 20 years, we won't be any more protected from any diseases because of the discovery.

Fewer animals used

Dr. Phyllis Leppert at the National Institutes of Health, which funded the research, defends the monkey gene modification.

She says scientists working with primates are always trying to balance the use of animals with the prospect of curing a disease.

Schatten says the gene insertion technique will actually limit the number of monkeys needed because test animals can be genetically designed. This will eliminate the need to create a large pool of test animals in hopes that one will have the desired characteristics, according to Schatten.

The work is reported in the January 12 edition of the journal Science.

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