lactation

The question of pacifiers (and for that matter bottles) arises when there is a new baby. In the case of Huxley, he will be breast milk fed if possible, but that involves bottle feeding at some point. Also, since our society does not practice cross nursing all Western babies go through a risk period when they begin to starve while the mother's milk is not yet in. Sometimes that is a couple of days, sometimes longer. In any event, the question comes up, do you let a baby anywhere near a nipple that is not attached to a human breast, and a related question is do you use a pacifier if the…
Obviously, I have to work this both into tonight's talk in Grand Rapids, and blog about it: Gene governs IQ boost from breastfeeding from PhysOrg.com The known association between breast feeding and slightly higher IQ in children has been shown to relate to a particular gene in the babies, according to a report this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [...] But for now, I'll just say this... By way of cautionary notes. It is being said that this is evidence of intelligence being the result of "nature and nurture" interacting. This is because there is a gene that…
In 2001, scientists at New Zealand biotechnology firm ViaLactia (that translates to Milk Road, right?), identified a cow with a genetic mutation that resulted in its producing skim milk. Since then, Milk Road has successfully bread a strain of cows from the original- Marge - that only produce skim milk. Marge and her offspring produce milk that is very low in saturated fats but high in healthier polyunsaturates and monounsaturated fats. This type of milk is apparently ideal for technological marvels like more-spreadable butter. Currently, dairy company's specializing in skim milk must…