All the latest developments in genomics that improve animal production, sustainability, and well-being.
Personalized CRISPR Gene Therapy
Updated May 16, 2025
The world’s first CRISPR directed personalized gene therapy was given to ten month old KJ Muldoon to potentially counteract a genetic mutation that impairs his body’s ability to process protein. Scientists used the child’s own genetic sequence to identify the mutation and design the customized therapy, and are hopeful that this is the first step in helping others with rare genetic disorders.
The world’s first CRISPR directed personalized gene therapy was given to ten month old KJ Muldoon to potentially counteract a genetic mutation that impairs his body’s ability to process protein. Scientists used the child’s own genetic sequence to identify the mutation and design the customized therapy, and are hopeful that this is the first step in helping others with rare genetic disorders.
FDA Approves Gene Edited Pig
Updated May 1, 2025
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a breakthrough gene-editing method that makes pigs resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), a disease that has plagued hog farms for decades and leads to significant financial losses. This is a huge step forward for farmers and genomic technology developers alike.
Photo provided by Genus PLC.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a breakthrough gene-editing method that makes pigs resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), a disease that has plagued hog farms for decades and leads to significant financial losses. This is a huge step forward for farmers and genomic technology developers alike.
Photo provided by Genus PLC.
Gene Edited Polo Horses in Argentina
Updated February 15, 2025
Five gene-edited polo horses are introduced in Argentina. These horses have edits to the myostatin gene, which regulates muscle growth. Variation in myostatin can lead to increased muscling which is observed as an extreme in Belgian Blue cattle and Whippet dogs. Scientists are studying these horses’ growth and development, and have not yet observed any adverse effects of the edit.
Five gene-edited polo horses are introduced in Argentina. These horses have edits to the myostatin gene, which regulates muscle growth. Variation in myostatin can lead to increased muscling which is observed as an extreme in Belgian Blue cattle and Whippet dogs. Scientists are studying these horses’ growth and development, and have not yet observed any adverse effects of the edit.
First Calf Resistant to Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) Produced by Gene Editing
Updated November 26, 2024
Using cutting-edge CRISPR technology, scientists have produced the first calf resistant to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), named Ginger. This project was led by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. Although directly exposed to the BVDV virus, Ginger never showed symptoms. This breakthrough is game-changing, as it could greatly reduce animal losses due to BVDV and reduce antibiotic use. Now, scientists are continuing to observe Ginger and her ability to live a healthy, productive life, while creating more gene edited animals to continue the study across different breeds.
Photo provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Using cutting-edge CRISPR technology, scientists have produced the first calf resistant to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), named Ginger. This project was led by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. Although directly exposed to the BVDV virus, Ginger never showed symptoms. This breakthrough is game-changing, as it could greatly reduce animal losses due to BVDV and reduce antibiotic use. Now, scientists are continuing to observe Ginger and her ability to live a healthy, productive life, while creating more gene edited animals to continue the study across different breeds.
Photo provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Gene Edited PRRS Resistant Pigs Close to FDA Approval
February 23, 2024
Very soon, we could see gene-edited pigs with resistance to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) available on the market. The company Genus is currently seeking FDA approval for pigs edited with CRISPR-Cas9 to disable the CD163 receptor. This ultimately prevents the PRRS virus from establishing infection. Currently, gaining FDA approval for gene edited animals is a lengthy and expensive approval process as these animals are regulated in a similar way as new pharmaceutical drugs. Researchers have confirmed that no risks are posed to consumers, and other countries such as Colombia have already approved these pigs for sale and market.
The bottom line? These pigs could save the pork industry $2.7 billion each year while increasing animal welfare, without adverse risks to the consumer.
Very soon, we could see gene-edited pigs with resistance to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) available on the market. The company Genus is currently seeking FDA approval for pigs edited with CRISPR-Cas9 to disable the CD163 receptor. This ultimately prevents the PRRS virus from establishing infection. Currently, gaining FDA approval for gene edited animals is a lengthy and expensive approval process as these animals are regulated in a similar way as new pharmaceutical drugs. Researchers have confirmed that no risks are posed to consumers, and other countries such as Colombia have already approved these pigs for sale and market.
The bottom line? These pigs could save the pork industry $2.7 billion each year while increasing animal welfare, without adverse risks to the consumer.
A New Alternative to CRISPR for Gene Editing?
February 16, 2024
Scientists are using RNA editing techniques more frequently, and some gene therapies using RNA editing have even been approved to enter clinical trials. But how does this differ from CRISPR editing, and how might it benefit us?
Genetic information encoded in DNA, or genes, are transcribed to messenger RNA and then translated into proteins which do the bulk of the work within a cell. Editing the RNA doesn’t make permanent, hard-coded changes to the genes. Instead, it edits the transient RNA molecule, which turn over quickly and can be limited to a specific amount of time. Because the DNA itself is not undergoing permanent changes, these types of edits may be looked at more favorably by the public.
So, could we use RNA editing in our agricultural animals? Perhaps to increase growth, reproduction, or other traits at specific times during an animal’s life. And, since we are not making permanent changes to the animal’s genes, could this mean more favorable consumer perceptions?
Scientists are using RNA editing techniques more frequently, and some gene therapies using RNA editing have even been approved to enter clinical trials. But how does this differ from CRISPR editing, and how might it benefit us?
Genetic information encoded in DNA, or genes, are transcribed to messenger RNA and then translated into proteins which do the bulk of the work within a cell. Editing the RNA doesn’t make permanent, hard-coded changes to the genes. Instead, it edits the transient RNA molecule, which turn over quickly and can be limited to a specific amount of time. Because the DNA itself is not undergoing permanent changes, these types of edits may be looked at more favorably by the public.
So, could we use RNA editing in our agricultural animals? Perhaps to increase growth, reproduction, or other traits at specific times during an animal’s life. And, since we are not making permanent changes to the animal’s genes, could this mean more favorable consumer perceptions?
First FDA Approved Gene Therapy using CRISPR-Cas9 Treats Sickle Cell Disease
December 8, 2023
The FDA has officially approved two gene therapy treatments for Sickle Cell Disease. These treatments use groundbreaking CRISPR-Cas9 and stem cell transplant technologies to prevent production of sickle red blood cells.
Sickle cell disease results from a mutation in the gene that encodes hemoglobin, resulting in production of sickle red blood cells. These therapies involve editing a patient’s own blood stem cells retrieved from bone marrow and reintroducing them into the body to produce healthy hemoglobin and normal red blood cells.
This paves the way for future approvals of life saving gene therapy treatments, and brings the application of gene editing into a favorable light. It also begs the question of what diseases or disorders we could use these therapies for in our agricultural animals.
The FDA has officially approved two gene therapy treatments for Sickle Cell Disease. These treatments use groundbreaking CRISPR-Cas9 and stem cell transplant technologies to prevent production of sickle red blood cells.
Sickle cell disease results from a mutation in the gene that encodes hemoglobin, resulting in production of sickle red blood cells. These therapies involve editing a patient’s own blood stem cells retrieved from bone marrow and reintroducing them into the body to produce healthy hemoglobin and normal red blood cells.
This paves the way for future approvals of life saving gene therapy treatments, and brings the application of gene editing into a favorable light. It also begs the question of what diseases or disorders we could use these therapies for in our agricultural animals.
WSU Achieves First FDA Approval for Consumption of Gene Edited Animals
May 1, 2023
Researchers at Washington State University led by Dr. Jon Oatley received FDA approval for gene edited pigs to enter the food chain for human consumption. These pigs were the result of CRISPR-Cas9 knockout of the NANOS2 gene and subsequent germ cell transplant from another sire, resulting in what are called “surrogate sires.”
Surrogate sires are essentially sires that pass on genetic information from a different, likely higher genetic merit sire to to its progeny. This has the potential to disseminate better genetics through natural breeding, and achieve greater genetic progress on operations that cannot use other reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination or embryo transfer. Surrogate sires are under development for cattle and goats as well.
Researchers at Washington State University led by Dr. Jon Oatley received FDA approval for gene edited pigs to enter the food chain for human consumption. These pigs were the result of CRISPR-Cas9 knockout of the NANOS2 gene and subsequent germ cell transplant from another sire, resulting in what are called “surrogate sires.”
Surrogate sires are essentially sires that pass on genetic information from a different, likely higher genetic merit sire to to its progeny. This has the potential to disseminate better genetics through natural breeding, and achieve greater genetic progress on operations that cannot use other reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination or embryo transfer. Surrogate sires are under development for cattle and goats as well.
CRISPR Cattle Receive Low Risk Designation from FDA
April 13, 2022
The FDA declared that products from CRISPR-edited PRLR-SLICK cattle pose no risk “to people, animals, the food supply, and the environment.” This designation is groundbreaking, and likely paves the way for other gene edited animals to receive a similar designation. These cattle are already approved to enter the market in Brazil.
PRLR-SLICK cattle have an edit in the prolactin receptor gene (PRLR), which results in a much shorter, or slick, hair coat. This mutation is found naturally within breeds of cattle in tropical regions that are more heat tolerant. Introducing this trait into cattle that reside in hotter areas that do not have slick hair coats present within that breed, such as Holstein or Angus, could increase production by reducing heat stress. Essentially, gene editing greatly expedites what we could accomplish in these cattle using natural breeding practices.
The FDA declared that products from CRISPR-edited PRLR-SLICK cattle pose no risk “to people, animals, the food supply, and the environment.” This designation is groundbreaking, and likely paves the way for other gene edited animals to receive a similar designation. These cattle are already approved to enter the market in Brazil.
PRLR-SLICK cattle have an edit in the prolactin receptor gene (PRLR), which results in a much shorter, or slick, hair coat. This mutation is found naturally within breeds of cattle in tropical regions that are more heat tolerant. Introducing this trait into cattle that reside in hotter areas that do not have slick hair coats present within that breed, such as Holstein or Angus, could increase production by reducing heat stress. Essentially, gene editing greatly expedites what we could accomplish in these cattle using natural breeding practices.