| On Topic
These gene-edited pigs are resistant to one of the
world’s most costly animal diseases, PRRS virus
Credit Norrie Russell
Dr Christine Burkard pictured with gene-edited pigs that are resistant to one of
the world’s most costly animal diseases, PRRS virus
Credit: Norrie Russell
meat entering our food chain, to help inform
political leaders on how these techniques
should be regulated.
“We also need to carry out longer term
studies to confirm that these genetic changes
do not have any unforeseen adverse effects on
the animals.
“If these studies are successful and the
public are accepting of this technology, we
would then be looking to work with pig
breeding companies to integrate these gene
edits into commercial breeding stocks.”
Genetically modified animals are banned
from the food chain in Europe. It is not clear
what regulations would apply to gene-edited
animals, however, as the approach is different.
GM techniques have been controversial
because they can involve introducing genes of
other species into an animal. In contrast, gene
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk
editing speeds up processes that could occur
naturally through breeding over many
generations, without introducing genes from
other species.
Professor Alan Archibald said: “Gene editing
gives us a powerful tool to help reduce losses
in the farming industry while improving the
health and welfare of the animals themselves.”
Jonathan Lightner, Chief Scientific Officer for
Genus PLC said: “These results are very
exciting and further underscore the potential,
through gene editing, to provide incredible
benefits to the global pork industry, and society
as a whole, by improving animal health. We
look forward to further collaboration with the
University on this exciting project.”
The interdisciplinary research is the result of
long term strategic investment from the
BBSRC.
“First and foremost we need broader public
discussion on the acceptability of gene
edited meat entering our food chain, to
help inform political leaders on how these
techniques should be regulated”
Jef Grainger, Associate Director of BBSRC
Science Strategy, said: “This is an exciting
result that demonstrates the potential for
genome editing approaches to enable
significant improvements to be made in the
health and welfare of farmed animals, and
reduce the economic impacts of diseases that
are otherwise difficult to manage effectively.”
July 2018 | Farming Monthly | 09