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.
- 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.
ScienceDaily 
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