Genetic Engineering in Farm Animals

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Background

Among the biomedical investigators a consensus has been emerging that the mouse - although a powerhouse genetic model - cannot fulfil the complete spectrum of biomedical research needs, and alternative animal models are needed for identification of new or improved diagnostics, farm derived zoonotic diseases, and to address preventative medicine (obesity, infertility, cardiovascular disorders). There is a growing list of drugs failing at advanced stages in drug development based on the research findings from mice, attesting to the lack of translatability of findings and inadequacy of mice as a model for certain diseases. Additionally, investigations requiring fine-tuning of surgical procedures or longitudinal sampling of blood and tissue biopsies, necessitate alternative large animal models. Likewise, the domestic large animals are utilized for zoonotic or infectious disease research, where the domestic animals serve either as reservoir or carriers of the disease, or are natural hosts to the pathogen. In this regard, the domestic pig and other domestic animals are emerging as models of choice. As almost all domestic animals are crossbreeds, the resulting phenotype from these animal models is more reliable and applicable to the human disease conditions than inbred mouse strains. Notwithstanding the many advantages offered by the pig models, progress has been slow in this field due to the genetic engineering technologies that lagged the mouse model. However, in recent years, with the sequencing of domestic animal genomes, the advent of advanced genomic editing tools, and the development of stem cell tools, large animal biotechnology is truly at the brink of realizing a new and fuller potential. Developments in germline editing tools are also expected to serve as a further fillip to seamlessly introgress alleles and traits from across genera into farm animals for sustainable agriculture. With the availability of these novel tools, come novel opportunities for reshaping the animal agriculture and for developing therapeutics.

The goal of this Research topic is to generate a collection of articles highlighting the progress made in germline editing and genetic engineering efforts in various farm animals; including pig, cattle, small ruminants and poultry. A collection of articles highlighting recent progress in genome editing/transgenic technologies and the major problems in agriculture and medicine they are addressing will be considered.

Advancements in:

1) Genome editing (NHEJ, HDR)

2) Base editing

3) Prime editing

4) zygotic modifications

5) Cellular engineering

6) Somatic cell genome editing

7) Germline editing

8) Knocking in transgenes and large constructs

to name a few will be considered.

Keywords: Genetic engineering, transgenics, genome editing, germline editing, livestock

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