Transgenic Mice Convert Carbohydrates to Essential Fatty Acids

<div><p>Transgenic mice (named “Omega mice”) were engineered to carry both optimized <i>fat-1</i> and <i>fat-2</i> genes from the roundworm <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> and are capable of producing essential omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids from saturated fats or carbohydrates. When maintained on a high-saturated fat diet lacking essential fatty acids or a high-carbohydrate, no-fat diet, the Omega mice exhibit high tissue levels of both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, with a ratio of ∼1∶1. This study thus presents an innovative technology for the production of both omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids, as well as a new animal model for understanding the true impact of fat on human health.</p>