Gene Editing and Animal Husbandry: Future lies with the Science

Pashu Sandesh, 10th October 2018

Imagine the “Manufacturing” of the Animals which are suited to our needs. Animals without Horns, Animals which can tolerate extremes of weather, Animals with more meat and milk yield with less feed. It may sound a concept from Science fiction movie, but the reality is that the technology is right at our doorstep through the Technique called as Gene Editing.

What is Gene Editing?

Gene Editing is a technique in which DNA is inserted, deleted, modified or replaced in the genome of a living organism. Imagine a scissor cutting and tailoring DNA to suit our requirement.The methods of gene editing give scientists the ability to improve an animal’s genome.Gene editing is a predictable, more precise way to speed up genetic improvement for the health of plants and animals.

What is the need of Gene Editing?

Gene editing is a promising way to address significant health problems that have long vexed doctors, farmers, and veterinarians. From testing new therapies to evaluating the efficacy of existing ones, gene editing presents a more precise and efficient path to better health outcomes by using an animal’s own genes.

Ethical Issues:

Gene Editing should not be confused with Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). The GMO process (called transgenesis), typically introduces genetic material from other organisms. The resulting plant or animal couldn’t be found in nature or bred conventionally. Gene editing is a distinctly different process. The gene editing process enables the use of genes already native to the plant or animal that could also be introduced via conventional crossbreeding. A gene edited animal is identical to one that could occur naturally through traditional reproduction processes.

The meat and dairy products from an animal developed using gene editing are no different from their non-edited equivalents.

Is the Gene Editing available commercially?

Founded in 2008, Recombinetics is a privately held Minnesota-based biotechnology company that aims at helping to solve some of the world’s most intractable challenges. Through gene editing, Recombinetics can have a transformative impact on humanity from improving health outcomes to feeding growing populations. Recombinetics is delivering viable products and generating revenues today from the large and growing biomedical and agricultural markets.

Impact of Gene Editing on Animal Husbandry:

• Hornless cattle : Semex a Canadian Dairy firm is partnering with Recombinetics to commercialise the polled trait. 
• Swine will be naturally castrated: Pigs will never attain puberty and will produce tender meat.
• Cattle will be naturally heat-tolerant : A program at Recombinetics focuses on improving the heat tolerance in both beef and dairy cattle. This will allow improved efficiency of production in the tropical regions. 
• Cattle and swine will be healthier : Cattle will be free of bovine tuberculosis.Recombinetics is working with a collaboration in Europe. Other programs focus on foot-and-mouth disease, as well as the PRRS virus. 

When our Government is working toward doubling the income of Farmers by 2022 we all know about the crucial role of Animal Husbandry Sector. With the early adoption and use of the Technology we can fast forward the realisation of dream into reality.