By Andi Anderson
For thousands of years, farmers have improved livestock through selective breeding. Today, modern science takes this further by using heritable genetic modifications (HGMs) to make precise DNA changes in animals.
A new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine reviews the benefits and risks of this technology. Professor William Muir, from Purdue University, calls it a “potential game changer.”
One powerful tool is CRISPR, which allows scientists to add or remove specific genes. Unlike earlier methods, CRISPR can target precise DNA locations, reducing unknown effects.
So far, few genetically modified animals have been approved in the U.S. One is AquAdvantage salmon, which grows faster than normal. Another is a CRISPR-edited cow with short hair for heat tolerance. A third, the GalSafe pig, could soon be approved. It does not produce certain sugars that trigger meat allergies.
HGMs also offer animal welfare benefits. For example, laying chickens could be edited to show a visible marker on male eggs. This helps farmers separate them before hatching, reducing waste and culling.
Disease resistance is another major opportunity. Gene-edited pigs that resist PRRS — a costly and deadly disease — are approved in some countries and could reach the U.S. soon. Scientists also aim to protect chickens from avian flu.
Muir and the report’s authors believe a faster FDA approval process is key. The current long and costly system prevents many useful products from reaching farms and stores.
The report recommends reviewing products based on how their traits compare to safe existing foods and increasing research and public understanding. Muir emphasizes, “This is a safe technology… thoroughly tested for consumer and animal safety.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ahavelaar
Categories: Indiana, Livestock