flimsy
construction meant that houses
perched on
steep slopes were no match for the torrents. In one town, firefighters were engulfed by mud as they arrived to help. In another, rescuers saved a baby from the wreckage along with the father, but the mother is feared dead.
The world's first genetically modified chickens that do not spread bird flu have been created by British scientists. Writing in the journal Science, the researchers say they've developed the birds with an artificial gene. The researchers say that
in principle
, the technique could be used to protect any farm animal from any viral disease. Professor Helen Sang of Edinburgh University says genetic modification is potentially a much better way of protecting against diseases than vaccination because it works even if the virus
mutate
s.
"It will protect a whole flock from infection from bird flu. This is really exciting because bird flu is a real challenge to production of poultry, and if this was introduced into poultry breeding, then it would protect our large scale poultry production flocks."
But the poultry industry says more research and consumer acceptance is needed.
There have been at least four more attacks on United Nations vehicles in Ivory Coast as the crisis over the disputed presidential election continues. A UN spokesman said the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was deeply concerned that forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to