Scientists clone puppies from genome-edited cells for the first time

Scientists in South Korea have successfully cloned two beagle puppies from genetically modified cells. To do this, they used CRISPR gene-editing technology, which made it possible to manipulate certain traits of dogs. StudyGeneration of genome-edited dogs by somatic cell nuclear transfer the work was published in the journal BMC Biotechnology.

The authors of the study sought to create dogs without a protein called DJ-1, which has been linked to neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. To do this, they first extracted cells called fibroblasts from beagle fetuses and removed the gene responsible for DJ-1 using CRISPR.

The modified fibroblasts were then fused with beagle eggs and implanted in surrogate mothers. A total of 68 embryos were transferred to six separate female dogs, one of which became pregnant. None of the puppies born showed any abnormal characteristics at 14 months of age.

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words researchers, this technology is already being used not only to clone pets, but also to breed special breeds dogs assisting in the search for hazardous substances and rescue work, as well as for the conservation of endangered rare breeds disappearance.

By genome-editing beagle cloning, the study authors also showed that it is possible to create cloned puppies with targeted traits. This approach may have a number of useful applications in the future. For example, it may allow the correction of pathogenic mutations in purebred dogs.