I am proposing to reduce the cost of cattle care and increase meat and milk production by improving the efficiency of cattle feed utilization through genetic engineering of bacteria found naturally in the cow rumen. The normal organisms in a cow’s rumen produce cellulase enzymes via fermentation processes. These enzymes hydrolyze cellulose into its fundamental building blocks which are then used by cattle for energy. However, energy intake is impaired because of the poor digestion capabilities of natural rumen bacteria. Due to this poor feed utilization, farmers are forced to feed their cattle excess amounts of food which can be a significant cost burden. Additionally, it can reduce the efficiency of meat and milk production. Since the United States is the world's largest producer of cow meat, methods to improve the efficiency and cost of production are of utmost importance. The solution to this poor feed utilization is to increase the cellulase production in cattle by utilizing a microbe with the natural ability to degrade cellulose. Streptomyces reticuli is an organism that possesses this function due to its ability to produce a cellulase enzyme. This cellulase enzyme is specifically produced by the cel-1 gene contained within Streptomyces reticuli. The cel-1 gene from Streptomyces reticuli will be inserted into an E. coli bacterium. This modification in the E. coli results in a phenotypic change giving it the ability to produce the cellulase enzyme and increase cellulose digestion. This engineered E. coli will be introduced into the cow rumen giving it the ability to more efficiently utilize feed. Ultimately this will lower the cost burden on farmers by reducing the amount of feed needed and allowing the cows to produce greater quantities of meat and milk increasing each cow’s profit potential.
WC: 289
Citation Style: Formal throughout. AMA style
Readers Profile: Molecular biologists, animal scientists, investors, dairy farmers
Reader’s Response: This proposal is well researched and readers should be intrigued/ excited for the implementation/ to fund the project.