Cockroach milk to be a super health food?
What's the story
According to recent research, cockroach milk could, one day in the future, become a super health food. The international research team which made the discovery was led by Bangalore-based Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. The research team consisted of scientists from India, US, Canada, France and Japan.
Cockroach milk?
How do cockroaches produce milk?
Researchers found that Pacific Beetle Cockroaches, scientifically known as Diploptera punctata, could produce milk. Unlike other cockroach species which lay eggs, Diploptera punctata gave birth to live babies formed within the mother cockroach's body. As a result, to feed its young ones, this species secretes a protein-rich liquid, much like milk in mammals. Researchers studied the properties of this milk.
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What exactly is cockroach milk?
When female Diplopera functata produce the protein-rich liquid secretion, babies ingest it and form protein crystals in its midgut. Researchers studied these same protein crystals in their cockroach milk research project.
Properties of cockroach milk
Why is cockroach milk being deemed a super health food?
According to the research, milk from the Pacific Beetle Cockroach, contains all the elements of a complete food - protein, sugar, and fat. In comparison to cow milk, milk of the Pacific Beetle Cockroach have almost four times the energy content. However, according to researchers, if cockroach milk is ever to be mass produced, it would be a result of reverse bioengineering.
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Cockroach milk as a growth agent?
"It is what one would need: protein, essential amino acids, lipids and sugars," said a researcher called Leonard Chavas when explaining why infants of the Dipoloptera punctata species are larger in size than other cockroach species.
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