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posted by martyb on Tuesday October 24 2017, @09:30PM   Printer-friendly
from the CRISPR-y-bacon dept.

Scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have used the CRISPR gene editing technique to create pigs with less body fat. The GMO pigs may be better from both a cost and animal welfare standpoint:

Here's something that may sound like a contradiction in terms: low-fat pigs. But that's exactly what Chinese scientists have created using new genetic engineering techniques.

In a paper [DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1707853114] [DX] published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists report that they have created 12 healthy pigs with about 24 percent less body fat than normal pigs.

The scientists created low-fat pigs in the hopes of providing pig farmers with animals that would be less expensive to raise and would suffer less in cold weather. "This is a big issue for the pig industry," says Jianguo Zhao of the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, who led the research. "It's pretty exciting."

[...] The animals have less body fat because they have a gene that allows them to regulate their body temperatures better by burning fat. That could save farmers millions of dollars in heating and feeding costs, as well as prevent millions of piglets from suffering and dying in cold weather. "They could maintain their body temperature much better, which means that they could survive better in the cold weather," Zhao said in an interview.

Previously: "Double-Muscled" Pigs Created Using Simple Gene Modification
eGenesis Bio Removes PERV From Pigs Using CRISPR
PETA Claims That Cambodian Farmers Are Breeding "Double-Muscled" Mutant Pigs


Original Submission

Related Stories

"Double-Muscled" Pigs Created Using Simple Gene Modification 26 comments

Researchers from Seoul National University have created piglets with abnormal muscle growth by disrupting a gene that inhibits muscle cell growth:

Key to creating the double-muscled pigs is a mutation in the myostatin gene (MSTN). MSTN inhibits the growth of muscle cells, keeping muscle size in check. But in some cattle, dogs and humans, MSTN is disrupted and the muscle cells proliferate, creating an abnormal bulk of muscle fibres. To introduce this mutation in pigs, Kim used a gene-editing technology called a TALEN, which consists of a DNA-cutting enzyme attached to a DNA-binding protein. The protein guides the cutting enzyme to a specific gene inside cells, in this case in MSTN, which it then cuts. The cell's natural repair system stitches the DNA back together, but some base pairs are often deleted or added in the process, rendering the gene dysfunctional.

The team edited pig fetal cells. After selecting one edited cell in which TALEN had knocked out both copies of the MSTN gene, Kim's collaborator Xi-jun Yin, an animal-cloning researcher at Yanbian University in Yanji, China, transferred it to an egg cell, and created 32 cloned piglets. Kim and his team have not yet published their results. However, photographs of the pigs "show the typical phenotype" of double-muscled animals, says Heiner Niemann, a pioneer in the use of gene-editing tools in pigs who is at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute in Neustadt, Germany. In particular, he notes, they have the pronounced rear muscles that are typical of such animals. Yin says that preliminary investigations, show that the pigs provide many of the double-muscled cow's benefits — such as leaner meat and a higher yield of meat per animal. However, they also share some of its problems. Birthing difficulties result from the piglets' large size, for instance. And only 13 of the 32 lived to 8 months old. Of these, two are still alive, says Yin, and only one is considered healthy. Rather than trying to create meat from such pigs, Kim and Yin plan to use them to supply sperm that would be sold to farmers for breeding with normal pigs. The resulting offspring, with one disrupted MSTN gene and one normal one, would be healthier, albeit less muscly, they say; the team is now doing the same experiment with another, newer gene-editing technology called CRISPR/Cas9. Last September, researchers reported using a different method of gene editing to develop new breeds of double-muscled cows and double-muscled sheep (C. Proudfoot et al. Transg. Res. 24, 147–153; 2015).

A mutation in MSTN could occur naturally, and no gene transfer is involved. No genetically engineered animal has been approved for human consumption by any of the world's regulators, but the U.S. and Germany have passed on regulating gene-edited crops that do not incorporate new DNA in the genome.


Original Submission

eGenesis Bio Removes PERV From Pigs Using CRISPR 7 comments

eGenesis Bio, a startup co-founded by George Church and Luhan Yang, has used CRISPR/Cas9 to inactivate Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus (PERV) in piglets. It is one step towards the creation of pig organs that could be transplanted into humans:

"This is the first publication to report on PERV-free pig production," Yang, who is chief scientific officer at Egenesis, said in a news release. [...] There are two huge hurdles to getting animal-organ transplants to successfully work in humans — a process known as xenotransplantation. The first, Yang told Business Insider in March, is the virology, or the fact that pigs carry genes encoded with viruses that could transmit disease to humans — that's the PERV genes that Egenesis is working to deactivate.

The second hurdle, she said, is the immunology. Since the pig organ would be foreign to the body, the person's immune system might try to kick it out, rejecting the organ. Those proved too challenging for a slew of researchers going after this subject in the 1990s [open, DOI: 10.4103/0970-1591.33729] [DX]. Ideally, CRISPR will help tackle those issues "that were insurmountable before," Yang said. "We think the advancement of gene editing can help us address both of them," Yang said.

Also at MIT and The New York Times (picture of cute piglets ready for harvest).

Inactivation of porcine endogenous retrovirus in pigs using CRISPR-Cas9 (DOI: 10.1126/science.aan4187) (DX)


Original Submission

PETA Claims That Cambodian Farmers Are Breeding "Double-Muscled" Mutant Pigs 83 comments

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals claims that Cambodian farmers are breeding "double-muscled" pigs. "Double-muscled" refers to a mutation in the myostatin gene (MSTN) which normally keeps muscle growth in check. Disruption of MSTN can lead to the abnormal proliferation of muscle cells in an organism:

Mutant pigs bred to grow to an enormous size just to be slaughtered and eaten? No, we aren't talking about the plot of the eye-opening Netflix sensation Okja—rather, this is the very real horror that seems to be unfolding on a Cambodian farm, where genetically altered pigs are being bred to develop heaping knots of muscle mass. Disturbing video footage and images captured on the farm have exploded around the web, sparking discussions about the many ways that animals suffer and are abused when they're treated as nothing more than "food."

[...] When South Korean and Chinese scientists created 32 double-muscled piglets in 2015, according to reports, only one was considered even marginally healthy. But pigs suffer even without this "Frankenscience"—on typical pig farms, their tails are cut off, their sensitive teeth are ground down, and the males are castrated, all without so much as an aspirin. Then, even though we have a wealth of nutritious plant-based foods to eat, these intelligent, playful, sociable animals' throats are slit and their bodies are turned into pork chops or sausages.

Breeders have exploited natural double-muscling, which occurs in Belgian Blue cattle, to create behemoth animals who suffer from a slew of health problems—just to yield slightly larger profits.

[Note: On Google News, only corroborating sources seem to be British tabloids right now]

Previously: "Double-Muscled" Pigs Created Using Simple Gene Modification
Scientists Create Extra-Muscular Beagles


Original Submission

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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by stretch611 on Tuesday October 24 2017, @09:40PM (9 children)

    by stretch611 (6199) on Tuesday October 24 2017, @09:40PM (#587115)

    I want my pigs nice and fat... so that my bacon tastes good.

    What is the point of "lean" pigs.... no one wants that.

    --
    Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
    • (Score: 5, Funny) by krishnoid on Tuesday October 24 2017, @09:42PM (4 children)

      by krishnoid (1156) on Tuesday October 24 2017, @09:42PM (#587116)

      Well, the bacon may be leanr, but at least it'll be crispr.

      • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday October 24 2017, @09:45PM (3 children)

        by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 24 2017, @09:45PM (#587118) Journal

        Well, the bacon may be leanr, but at least it'll be crispr.

        You reckon the body temperature changes will drive them to the point of roasting themselves on their feet?
        What if they set the barnyard in fire?

        --
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
        • (Score: 2) by MostCynical on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:00PM (2 children)

          by MostCynical (2589) on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:00PM (#587129) Journal

          So now the pigs will go the way of the hay?

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_combustion [wikipedia.org]

          If you can control it a bit, you might get a nice smokey flavour..

          --
          "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
          • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:19PM (1 child)

            by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:19PM (#587143) Journal

            So now the pigs will go the way of the hay?
            ...
              you might get a nice smokey flavour...

            Don't you worry, US have EPA to care about smoking on a global scale [huffingtonpost.com.au] (not only for pigs, that is).
            The rest of the world can import "The Great American Bacon" and thus contribute to MAGA; 't's a civic duty, especially for US'es allies - Trump made it clear in the NATO context: "here's the deal! pay up, folks, or else..." [theguardian.com]

            --
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:08PM (1 child)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:08PM (#587136) Journal

      I want my pigs nice and fat... so that my bacon tastes good.
      What is the point of "lean" pigs.... no one wants that.

      Um, combine this story with the previous story and lean pigs won't get aggressive breast cancer. How's that for a reason?

      don't confuse intermittent clouds with internet clouds

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 3, Funny) by bob_super on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:15PM

        by bob_super (1357) on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:15PM (#587142)

        Another unusual statement brought to you by SN: "Got Ninja'd while searching for the number of tits on a swine"

    • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:13PM (1 child)

      by bob_super (1357) on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:13PM (#587140)

      > What is the point of "lean" pigs.... no one wants that.

      Based on the previous story, it will lower farmers' insurance cost by reducing swine breast cancer.
      You though swine flu was scary? Try breast cancer on a female with 6 or 7 pairs of teats...

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @03:54PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @03:54PM (#587420)

        You though swine flu was scary? Try breast cancer on a female with 6 or 7 pairs of teats...

        How is that scary? Last I'd checked, cancer wasn't contagious.

  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 24 2017, @09:55PM (10 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 24 2017, @09:55PM (#587126)

    That's the whole FUCKING point of pork, fatty proteiny meat!!! The next thing, these Chinese will "invent" dry watermelon.

    Dumb fucks.

    • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:05PM (3 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:05PM (#587135)

      Triggered by genetic engineering, wow the snowflakes have really infested everything!

      • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:09PM

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:09PM (#587138) Journal

        Snowflakes need their safe spaces. Take your pro-truth bias somewhere else.
        /s

        --
        People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:14PM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 24 2017, @10:14PM (#587141)

        Bacon-loving, 삼겹살-loving snowflake here.

        Chances are, I would eat you. No need for trigger. Where do you live?

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 24 2017, @11:50PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 24 2017, @11:50PM (#587167)

          I live straight up your asshole. Dig in.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @12:35AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @12:35AM (#587186)

      Or watermelon with pit.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @01:48AM (4 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @01:48AM (#587213)

      I don't think they invented anything. Ever heard of wild boar? It's a nice strong, game-y tasting, lean pig, and I believe it already does very well in cold weather.

      Bonus: No mucking about with CRISPR and all the non-GMO backlash that will result.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @04:15AM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @04:15AM (#587261)

        Game-y taste? Ew.

        Non-GMO backlash just lets me know who the idiots are.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @04:51AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @04:51AM (#587268)

          When you are up to your ass in GMO pigs[alligators], then we'll see who is the idiot.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @06:32AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @06:32AM (#587300)
        Yeah I think those genes existed before and were bred out as farmers went for pigs that gained weight the fastest.
      • (Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Wednesday October 25 2017, @02:37PM

        by LoRdTAW (3755) on Wednesday October 25 2017, @02:37PM (#587383) Journal

        And they get fucking huge too. I mean 1000 pound pigs! How much bacon is that? How many pork chops and pork roasts?

  • (Score: 2) by shortscreen on Wednesday October 25 2017, @05:21AM (1 child)

    by shortscreen (2252) on Wednesday October 25 2017, @05:21AM (#587276) Journal

    If the pigs are getting cold maybe scientists should have given them fur instead.

    • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday October 25 2017, @06:31AM

      by bob_super (1357) on Wednesday October 25 2017, @06:31AM (#587299)

      I'm not a big fan of hairs stuck in my teeth when I'm eating, but then again the genetically modified pig may not throw a tantrum when it's time to shave.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @06:57PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @06:57PM (#587493)

    Usually I comment on these with the idea that instead of "editing", pre-existing mutants were selected (mostly this is a problem with the KO NHEJ studies). This doesn't seem plausible here since they properly sequenced across the splice junctions. I couldn't totally check the results without the plasmid sequence but I'll accept it.

    However, the main claim to fame for CRISPR is efficiently doing this. I don't think they showed any efficiency here. They say:

    Here, we report application of a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated, homologous recombination (HR)-independent approach to efficiently insert mouse adiponectin-UCP1 into the porcine endogenous UCP1 locus.
    [...]
    Three of 26 cell colonies were identified as positive for forward integration (11.54%)

    This 11% value is what they are calling "efficient". I'll allow that 11% could be considered efficient, but this calculation for 26 colonies out of how many original cells? It sounds like they started with multiple 96-well plates (ie many more cells than 26):

    Primary pig PEFs were isolated as previously reported (60). Cas9-gRNA plasmids were cotransfected into cultured PEF cells by nucleofection. Forty-eight hours after transfection, cells were harvested using 0.25% trypsin/EDTA (Gibco), and the cell density was calculated using a handheld automated cell counter (Millipore). Single cells were plated in each well of 96-well plates by limiting dilution and cultured for ∼10 d in cell culture medium supplemented with 2.5 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor (Sigma). The medium was replaced every 4 d. Confluent cell colonies were propagated and genotyped by PCR and sequencing.

    So it is actually 3/N, where N is however many cells they started with. Just looking at the 26 plates that grew to confluence is not the right way to judge the efficiency of the process.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @07:44PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 25 2017, @07:44PM (#587515)

    Just saying it didn't end well for the lard-os.

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