CRISPR is knocking on barn door

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Genetics
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Traditional genome modification in livestock was inefficient, relying on homologous recombination and somatic cell nuclear transfer.
• This inefficiency hindered the widespread application of genetic improvements in farm animals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of current site-specific genome modification techniques in livestock.
• To discuss established and potential applications of genome editing in farm animals.
• To explore regulatory considerations for gene-edited products in animal agriculture.

Main Methods:

• Overview of site-specific endonucleases, focusing on CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology.
• Discussion of CRISPR's application in various livestock species, including rabbits, swine, goats, sheep, and cattle.
• Review of gene editing applications for livestock improvement and biomodelling.

Main Results:

• CRISPR technology allows for efficient, single-step targeted gene ablation (KO) or insertion (KI) directly in zygotes.
• Successful application of CRISPR in multiple livestock species demonstrates its broad utility.
• Genome editing offers diverse applications, including disease resistance, enhanced productivity, and production of therapeutic proteins.

Conclusions:

• Genome editing, particularly CRISPR, has revolutionized genetic modification in livestock, making advanced applications feasible.
• Gene-edited livestock hold significant potential for improving agricultural practices, animal welfare, and human health.
• The review addresses the future prospects and regulatory landscape for gene-edited animals and their products.