TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Method: In producing the VLC-PUFA, the Elovl4 expression system which encodes the ELOVL4 protein comprises a nucleic acid which hybridizes to at least one of SEQ ID NO. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, or 17, not defined in the specification, under conditions of medium or high stringency. The Elovl4 expression system which encodes the ELOVL4 protein comprises an expression control sequence. The ELOVL4 protein is at least 95% identical to at least one of SEQ ID NO. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, or 18, not defined in the specification. In the method, the recombinant cell or organism is selected from bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, plants, or animals. The method further comprises purifying the VLC-PUFA harvested from the cultured recombinant cell or organism, where the recombinant cell or organism produces different VLC-PUFAs having chain lengths comprising 28-40 carbons. The VLC-PUFAs produced by the recombinant cell or organism are primarily n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are primarily 3n3, 4n3, 5n3, 6n3, 7n3, and/or 8n3 fatty acids. Alternatively, the VLC-PUFAs produced by the recombinant cell or organism are primarily n6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are primarily 3n6, 4n6, 5n6, 6n6, and/or 7n6 fatty acids. Sequences not defined here may be found at ftp://ftp.wipo.int/pub/published_pct_sequences/publication. Culturing the recombinant cell or organism comprises providing a precursor fatty acid which is elongated by the ELOVL4 protein of the recombinant cell organism. The recombinant cell or organism produces a VLC-PUFA profile that differs from an isolated cell or organism which does not comprise the Elovl4 expression system. The recombinant cell or organism is a genetically-modified milk-producing animal. The recombinant cell or organism is also an animal or a plant. The VLC-PUFA comprises at least 5% by weight of the total fatty acids produced by the recombinant cell or organism.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - PHARMACEUTICALS - Preferred Formulation: The VLC-PUFA comprises at least 0.001% of the lipid component. The nutritional or pharmaceutical formulation comprises a mixture of at least two types of VLC-PUFAs having chain lengths of 28-40 carbons. The nutritional or pharmaceutical formulation is an infant formula, a baby food, a pet food, an animal or livestock food, an adult nutritional supplement, an intravenous or parenteral nutritional formulation, a purified composition for therapeutic use, a soap, a lotion, a cream, an oil, a shampoo, or a cosmetic. ACTIVITY - Antiinfertility. Test details are described but no results given.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - None given.    ADMINISTRATION - Dosage is 0.1-1000 mg/kg. Administration can be through subcutaneous, intradermal, intravenous, intramuscular, or intraperitoneal route.    EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.