Bird flu has devastated the US poultry and egg industries. It even had an impact on other nations. Researchers have been working to fight off the disease and have genetically modified chickens to block the bird flu.

Researchers affirmed that the early experiments have shown that the research work is going in right direction. The research is being supported by the UK government and top chicken companies. Germany's EW Group and Arkansas-based Cobb-Vantress have even funded parts of the research. According to a data, 48 million chickens and turkeys were killed due to the disease.

The genetically modified chickens have been injected with a fluorescent protein, so that they can be distinguished from normal birds in experiments. Researchers said that they are happy with the results, but the chickens are not going to appear in the market any time soon, as approvals are yet to be taken.

Laurence Tiley, senior lecturer in molecular virology at the University of Cambridge, said, “The public is obviously aware of these outbreaks when they're reported and wondering why there's not more done to control it”.

Researchers have explained that when the modified birds will come in contact with the flue then the genetic codes of the birds will trick the virus to copy the decoy and block the virus’ ability to reproduce itself. The first GMO animal was a mouse, which was produced in the 1980s for research purposes.