system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Breastfeeding... is modern formula still not as good for the babies as mother's milk?

My wife breastfeeds, two of the ladies in my office that have young children were strictly formula.  My wife's mother raised all six of her kids on formula.  I understand children can be happy and healthy either way, but every time I try to research the health benefits all I find are articles either berating people for not breastfeeding or pushing the formula stance because that's what they used on their child and they want to justify it.  What actual scientific research shows that breastfeeding is better and is it really a substantial difference?

edit: Need to apologize for any comments that seem to attack mother's of formula babies.  I'm not attacking, a co-worker who formula fed her baby was making fun of a breastfeeding mother's group's newsletter yesterday and my wife breastfeeds so I'm feeling a bit offended and defensive.  Thank you Banff for the logical, science based answer.
gpt
Breastmilk is a living fluid.  It contains white blood cells, as well as lots of antibodies.  Breastmilk also changes in composition from the beginning to the end of a feed (foremilk vs. hindmilk) in elements related to satiety (such as leptin, grehlin and triglycerides).  It also changes in composition with the age of the infant.  All of these dynamic properties are something that formula will never be able to replicate.  Formula should be considered a medical substitute for breastmilk when breastmilk is unavailable.  It really shouldn't be thought of as an equal alternative.