Goat Cell: Biology, Research, and Technology

A goat cell is the fundamental biological unit of a goat. As a eukaryotic animal cell, it has a defined nucleus that houses its genetic material, separating it from the cytoplasm. This cytoplasm contains specialized structures called organelles, and the entire cell is enclosed by a protective membrane that regulates the passage of substances. These cells are the building blocks that form all tissues and organs within the goat.

Fundamental Characteristics of Goat Cells

The cell’s mitochondria generate most of its supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy. A defining feature of the goat (Capra hircus) is its chromosome number. Each somatic, or non-reproductive, cell contains 60 chromosomes arranged in 30 pairs, a distinct genetic makeup compared to humans, who have 46 chromosomes.

These chromosomes, composed of DNA, carry all hereditary information for the goat’s development. Of the 30 pairs, 29 are autosomes carrying genes for general traits. One pair consists of sex chromosomes (XX for females and XY for males) that determine the animal’s sex.

Goat Cells in Biomedical Research

Goat cells are used in a field of biotechnology known as “pharming,” a blend of “pharmaceutical” and “farming.” This process involves genetically modifying goats to produce medically valuable proteins in their milk. The technology allows for the large-scale production of complex human proteins that can be difficult or costly to manufacture using other methods. These proteins are then purified from the milk to create therapeutic drugs.

The process begins at the cellular level, where a human gene for a therapeutic protein is inserted into the genetic material of a goat cell using a technique called microinjection. The modified nucleus from this cell is used to create a transgenic embryo, which is implanted into a surrogate mother. The resulting transgenic goat carries the human gene in its DNA and expresses the desired protein in its mammary glands, which is then secreted into its milk.

An example of this technology is the production of ATryn, a drug containing human antithrombin. Antithrombin is a natural anticoagulant that helps prevent blood clots, and some patients have a hereditary deficiency of this protein. Using transgenic goats, large quantities of recombinant antithrombin are produced from their milk as an alternative to sourcing it from human blood plasma. The FDA approved ATryn in 2009, the first human drug produced in a genetically engineered animal cleared for medical use.

Somatic Cells and Goat Cloning

Goat cloning relies on somatic cells, which are any body cells other than reproductive cells (sperm and egg). These cells are diploid, meaning they contain the full set of 60 chromosomes. Skin cells or cells from other tissues are used as the source for the genetic material to create a genetically identical copy of the donor animal.

The primary technique is Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT). The process uses a somatic cell from the goat to be cloned and an unfertilized egg cell from a donor. Scientists remove the nucleus from the egg cell, a procedure called enucleation. The nucleus from the donor’s somatic cell is then transferred into this enucleated egg. This new embryo now contains the complete genetic instructions from the donor goat.

An electrical pulse is used to fuse the components and stimulate the reconstructed egg to begin dividing like a fertilized embryo. After developing for a few days in a laboratory, the embryo is transferred into the uterus of a surrogate mother. The surrogate carries the pregnancy to term, giving birth to a clone of the original donor.

Goat Cells in Food Technology

The application of goat cells is expanding into food technology for the production of cultivated, or lab-grown, meat. This approach, part of cellular agriculture, aims to produce real animal meat without raising and slaughtering animals. The process begins by harvesting a small sample of muscle or stem cells from a living goat through a harmless biopsy.

These harvested goat cells are placed in a cultivator, or bioreactor, which mimics the conditions inside an animal’s body. The cells are nourished with a nutrient-rich liquid called a growth medium containing amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. This solution provides everything the cells need to proliferate.

Inside the bioreactor, the cells multiply over several weeks. To help them form structured tissue, they are grown on a scaffold that provides a surface for them to attach to and organize into muscle and fat. As the cells mature, they form tissues biologically identical to meat from a traditionally raised goat. The resulting product is then harvested directly from the bioreactor for consumption.