Particle.news

Genetically Engineered Plants Could Revolutionize Baby Formula Nutrition

New research shows plants can produce human milk sugars, potentially making infant formula healthier and more affordable.

Overview

  • Scientists reprogrammed Nicotiana benthamiana plants to produce human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs).
  • These sugars are crucial for disease prevention and gut health in infants, mimicking breast milk's unique benefits.
  • Current methods to produce HMOs using bacteria are costly and limited in scale.
  • Engineered plants could provide a cheaper, scalable solution for incorporating HMOs into baby formula.
  • The study also suggests potential for more nutritious non-dairy plant milk for adults.