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- Title
104 Gene editing in livestock: advancements, opportunities and challenges.
- Authors
Dilger, Anna C
- Abstract
Genetic engineering of animals, or the alteration of an animal's genetic code by exogenous manipulation, dates from the mid-1970s. Using these techniques, many transgenic animals were created as models for human diseases or to further agricultural and biomedical research, but barriers that slowed the approval of these animals for food production hampered their development in livestock. However, with the advent of gene editing in the last ten years, there is renewed interest in genetic modification of livestock to improve productivity, efficiency or product quality. Unlike genetic engineering, gene editing does not rely on the introduction of exogenous DNA; instead, double-stranded breaks in DNA are induced in targeted genes and mutations occur due to the endogenous repair mechanisms present in organisms. Small sequences of exogenous DNA can also be introduced in this process, if desired. Gene editing is more efficient and more targeted than genetic engineering, resulting in increased yields of cells with the desired mutation. Recent advancements in gene editing include the generation of pigs resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus due to a mutation in CD163, a mutation in the SP110 gene resulting in cattle with lower susceptibility to tuberculosis, and alterations that lead to polled cattle, eliminating the need for dehorning. However, these advancements are not without their challenges. Chief among them are poor consumer acceptance of meat, milk and eggs from gene-edited animals and the inconsistent and complicated regulatory environment involving these products. Additionally, challenges exist in the production of these animals due to unintended consequences from induced mutations. Stated plainly, making a gene-edited animal is rarely as simple as it seems. However, if these challenges can be overcome, gene editing holds promise for rapid improvement in germplasm to rapidly increase productivity and sustainability of livestock species.
- Subjects
PORCINE reproductive &; respiratory syndrome; GENOME editing; DNA repair; DOUBLE-strand DNA breaks; ANIMAL genetic engineering; MELAMINE; GENETIC engineering; TRANSGENIC animals
- Publication
Journal of Animal Science, 2019, Vol 97, p60
- ISSN
0021-8812
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/jas/skz122.110