In a breakthrough South Korea has witnessed the birth of two beagle puppies created through the use of CRISPR gene editing on skin cells. This remarkable achievement not pushes the boundaries of engineering and dog cloning but also opens up new possibilities, in perfecting purebred dogs and advancing medical research for both canines and humans.
Up until now CRISPR edited dogs were primarily produced by modifying eggs. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first instance where such dogs have been cloned. This approach offers advantages by providing a dependable method to create genome edited dogs of different pure breeds.
Tackling Genetic Diseases in Purebred Dogs
Purebred dogs often carry mutations that lead to diseases. Gene editing presents a path to eliminate these issues without compromising other desirable traits. The cloning technique proposed by Okjae Koo from ToolGen, a company brings hope for this endeavor.
For this groundbreaking experiment Koo and his team initiated the process by editing genes in skin cells to introduce mutations in the DJ 1 gene, which hampers protein production. These DJ 1 gene mutations are associated with conditions like Parkinsons disease making these cloned dogs invaluable for studying and developing treatments, for ailments.
A Surprising Twist of Green LuminescenceFurthermore apart, from modifying the DJ 1 gene the team of researchers also incorporated genes, including one that codes for a green protein called GFP. The main purpose behind this addition was to identify cells that had been successfully edited. However it is important to note that this particular feature is not intended to be included in studies.
The Intricate Cloning Process
To produce these CRISPR edited clones the team united the skin cells with egg cells from which the DNA had been extracted. These pairs of cells were fused using pulses and then implanted into a surrogate mother. As a result two healthy and typical beagle puppies were born with a twist – their skin emits a glow under ultraviolet light.
Potential Onset of Diseases in the Future
Given that diseases linked to DJ 1 mutations frequently manifest with age there is interest in monitoring the long term health of these beagles. Currently at 22 months old they show no signs of abnormalities; however scientists will closely observe their health as they grow older in order to gain insights, into how such conditions progress.
Revolutionizing the Approach
In total 68 embryos were transferred into six dogs resulting in the birth of two puppies.The success rate of around 3 percent achieved in these CRISPR edited dog experiments is similar, to the rates seen in trials conducted by Lai Liangxue in China.
Lai recognizes the advantages of the cloning technique used in South Korea. When gene editing is performed on fertilized eggs the resulting animals often become chimeras meaning only some of their cells are edited. This requires breeding to obtain an individual with edited genes. On the hand cloning eliminates the need for breeding and allows for achieving the desired genetic changes more easily.
A Dual Purpose: Medical Research and Pet Cloning
Both Koos and Lais teams are actively engaged in using gene edited dogs for research. This promises insights into genetic conditions and potential treatments. Additionally cloning has also emerged as a way to recreate pets that have passed away by using tissue samples taken after their demise.
In the United States companies like ViaGen have successfully cloned 1,000 “companion animals.” Although ViaGen currently doesn’t offer editing or modification services combining cloning with gene editing holds promise, for improving the health of these animals in the future.
To conclude the birth of CRISPR edited beagle clones represents an achievement that highlights the potential of genetic engineering.
This breakthrough not provides a perspective, on improving the well being of purebred canines but also adds valuable insights to the research on human illnesses. As we delve deeper into the realm of editing and cloning we find ourselves on the brink of opportunities, in the fields of genetics and healthcare.
