Biotechnological Strategies for Cultured Poultry Meat Biofabrication Through Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell...

The growing global demand for ethical, resource-efficient protein sources has renewed serious interest in cultured meat as a viable alternative to conventional livestock production. Two revolutionary biotechnological systems, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) reprogramming and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing, when combined, offer unparalleled accuracy and scalability for the biofabrication of avian flesh. In this review, we present a comprehensive pipeline that involves the ectopic expression of Yamanaka factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc) to reprogram primary somatic cells derived from Gallus gallus into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This process is subsequently followed by targeted genome editing to enhance myogenic potential, growth efficiency, nutritional composition, and disease resistance. iPSCs are cultivated in a xeno-free bioreactor following genome editing, and subsequently directed to develop into myoblasts and mature myotubes. Three-dimensional tissue biofabrication is realized by combining biomaterial scaffolds and perfusion bioreactor systems, structuring an authentic muscle tissue matrix. These engineering platforms enable precise control over microenvironmental parameters, including oxygenation and nutrient perfusion. The resulting biofabricated poultry product is compositionally optimized, free of antibiotic residues, and exhibits a significantly reduced environmental footprint than poultry that is grown in the traditional way. This all-in-one solution solves important problems in food security, animal welfare, land use efficiency, and greenhouse gas emissions while also setting up a scalable biomanufacturing framework for making proteins for the next generation.