CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Targeting during Embryogenesis in Swine

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Developmental Biology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Gene function elucidation is crucial but challenging in large animals due to difficulties in generating gene-targeted embryos.
• Traditional methods are time-consuming and costly in large animals with long gestation periods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel CRISPR/Cas9-based approach for simultaneous gene disruption in swine embryos.
• To facilitate the study of early embryo development and zygotic genome activation in large animal models.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 technology for targeted gene disruption during embryogenesis in swine.
• Developing a method to disrupt up to two genes concurrently within the same embryo.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated the ability to introduce targeted mutations into swine embryos.
• Established a technique for simultaneous disruption of multiple genes during early development.

Conclusions:

• This CRISPR/Cas9 approach offers an efficient alternative to traditional breeding for creating gene-targeted large animal models.
• The method provides a valuable tool for investigating fundamental biological processes like zygotic genome activation in swine.