“The FDA has approved a genetic modification that makes pigs resistant—and possibly almost entirely immune—to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRS), a disease that costs US swineherds hundreds of millions of dollars each year,” reports The Doomslayer.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has today granted approval to PIC [the Pig Improvement Company] for the gene edit used in its [porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRS)]-resistant pig, determining that the technology is safe and effective…
The FDA-approved gene edit will be used to breed PIC’s PRRS-resistant pigs, helping to tackle one of the most devastating, global swine diseases that affects pig health and welfare, exacerbating the need for antibiotics and increases the environmental impact of raising pigs.
FDA approval does not automatically trigger commercialization in the US, however. Among the barriers to overcome will be need for countries trades pork with to accept the technology…
While the disease-resistant technology is new, pork from PRRS-resistant pigs is no different to other pork, except for resistance to the infection caused by the PRRS virus. This was confirmed by a recent study which reviewed 97 meat quality and composition data points, PIC said.
Matt Culbertson, chief operating office of the Pig Improvement Company says that “the pigs appear entirely immune to more than 99% of the known versions of the PRRS virus, although there is one rare subtype that may break through the protection.”
Genetically-modified pigs could also end the organ transplant shortage: “David Ayares runs a biotech company in southwestern Virginia that plans to use cloned farm animals to provide kidneys, hearts and livers to save thousands of people who need transplants. ‘We’ve been working on this for more than 20 years. And it’s no longer a science fiction experiment,’ he says. ‘It’s actually a reality.’”
Genetic engineering recently produced pork and bacon that people who are allergic to pork can eat.
