In a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature, researchers from the University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London and the Pirbright Institute showed how they modified the section of chicken DNA responsible for producing ANP32A, a protein that the flu virus takes over to reply.
Thus, chickens whose ANP32A molecule had been genetically modified were exposed to a normal dose of the H9N2-ULD strain of bird flu, and nine out of ten remained uninfected, without transmitting to other chickens.
However, the protective effect of the edited gene is not absolute: when the viral dose was increased 1,000 times, exceeding the natural level, almost half of the chickens were infected, according to studied published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
The researchers also noted that when the chicken cell was infected with bird flu, the virus took over the edited gene to multiply. This indicates that further efforts are needed to achieve full protection against avian influenza.
Is genetic modification legal?
Gene editing is more precise than controversial genetic modification techniques and has the advantage of not introducing genes from other species into an organism. Basically, gene editing is a powerful technology that allows the DNA (genetic material) of organisms to be modified, including plants, animals and humans. This technology allows researchers to add, change or delete specific segments of DNA in genomes, which can impact the characteristics and traits of these organisms.
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There are several gene editing systems, but one of the most well-known and used is CRISPR-Cas9. This system uses a protein called Cas9 and a guide RNA molecule to cut the DNA at the desired location, and the body repairs its own DNA. Thus, specific and precise changes can be introduced into the genome.
In addition to the need for continued research, there are still legislative barriers to overcome before the gene editing technique becomes accessible to chicken flocks on farms. Recently, the British Parliament approved a bill on “precision breeding”, which allows the genetic editing of plants and animals. However, additional regulations are still needed to ensure that these genetically modified organisms can be safely consumed as food.
The spread of bird flu is a growing concern for health authorities, animal welfare groups and food producers. More than 100 million animals were slaughtered last winter, and the spread to humans in a few isolated cases fueled fears of a new pandemic.
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2023-10-15 12:01:58
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