Stem cell study paves way for manufacturing cultured meat

Date:
December 7, 2021
Source:
University of Nottingham
Summary:
Scientists have for the first time obtained stem cells from
livestock that grow under chemically defined conditions, paving
the way for manufacturing cell cultured meat and breeding enhanced
livestock.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Scientists have for the first time obtained stem cells from livestock that
grow under chemically defined conditions, paving the way for manufacturing
cell cultured meat and breeding enhanced livestock.


========================================================================== Researchers from the University of Nottingham's School of Biosciences,
together with colleagues at the Universities of Cambridge, Exeter
Tokyo and Meiji (Japan) have developed stem cell lines from pigs, sheep
and cattle embryos grown without the need for serum, feeder cells or antibiotics. The research, "Pluripotent stem cells related to embryonic
disc exhibit common self-renewal requirements in diverse livestock
species," has been published today in the journal Developmentand was
funded by BBSRC, EU (ERC), MRC and Wellcome Trust.

The chemically definedconditions are growth medium suitable for the in
vitro cell culture of animal cells in which all of the chemical components
are known.

Standard cell culture media commonly consist of a basal medium
supplemented with animal serum (such as fetal bovine serum, FBS) as a
source of nutrients and other ill-defined factors.

The technical disadvantages to using serum include its undefined nature,
batch- to-batch variability in composition, and the risk of contamination
so this new chemically defined approach provides greater consistency
and safety, making it an ideal solution for manufacturing new lab grown
food products.

Professor Ramiro Alberio led the research and explains: "The ability
to derive and maintain livestock stem cells under chemically defined
conditions paves the way for the development of novel food products,
such as cultured meat . The cell lines we developed are a step change
from previous models as they have the unique ability to permanently grow
to make muscle and fat." These novel cell lines can differentiate into multiple cell types, they can be genetically manipulated using Crispr/Cas9
gene editing tool and can be used as donors for nuclear transfer. This technology offers new opportunities for expanding research into gene
editing animals to improve their productivity, and adaptation to to
climate change and modifications of diets to reduce the environmental
impact of livestock production.

Professor Alberio adds: "Gene editing in this way makes modifications
that could happen naturally over a long time but in a selective a rapid
manner to customize specific traits. This can accelerate the pace of
genetic selection of livestock and cultured meat to improve productivity
and creation of healthier foods. With a growing population to feed in a changing climate finding reliable and sustainable food is vital. This
research offers potential solutions that the food industry could use
at scale." Professor Austin Smith, Director of the University of
Exeter's Living Systems Institute, one of the world's leading experts
in stem cell research said: "It is very exciting that starting from a fundamental question about early development in different animals we have discovered a technique that may revolutionise future production of meat." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Nottingham. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Masaki Kinoshita, Toshihiro Kobayashi, Benjamin Planells, Doris
Klisch,
Daniel Spindlow, Hideki Masaki, Susanne Bornelo"v, Giuliano Giuseppe
Stirparo, Hitomi Matsunari, Ayuko Uchikura, Ismael Lamas-Toranzo,
Jennifer Nichols, Hiromitsu Nakauchi, Hiroshi Nagashima, Ramiro
Alberio, Austin Smith. Pluripotent stem cells related to embryonic
disc exhibit common self-renewal requirements in diverse livestock
species.

Development, 2021; 148 (23) DOI: 10.1242/dev.199901 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211207092449.htm

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