In Russia, the first cloned calf is over a year old, and it paves the way for raising genetically modified livestock
A research group from the All-Russian Research Institute of Animal Husbandry, as well as Skoltech and Moscow State University received the first healthy cloned calf in the Russian Federation, and by the way, it is already over a year old.
In addition, our scientists also managed to "turn off" the genes of the beta-lactoglobulin protein. This is the gene that is responsible for the allergic reaction to milk in humans. This work of our scientists is an important step towards the creation of genetically modified cows that will produce hypoallergenic milk.
Why not mice, but cattle
We are all accustomed to the fact that scientists experiment mainly on white mice. And this is explained, first of all, by the fact that it is easier to observe them and they multiply quickly. But unlike other countries in which GMO mice are a completely normal phenomenon, in Russia they are practically not used.
Scientists decided not to try to catch up with their foreign colleagues, but to go their own way. Therefore, our scientists decided to work with other types of animals, and this, despite the fact that performing editing of other types of animals (as opposed to mice) is not only an expensive pleasure, but also poses a number of problems for scientists associated with the breeding and breeding of modified animals.
So the work on modified cows, which at the same time give hypoallergenic milk, according to Skoltech Associate Professor P. Sergiev, this is a very interesting project that is simply necessary from the point of view of the future of our agriculture.
Cloning and its first results
So the cloned heifer was born on April 10, 2020 and weighed 63 kilograms. And now, after more than a year, this is a completely healthy heifer capable of giving birth to its offspring weighing 410 kilograms.
For the first year of her life, the genetically modified heifer was kept in a specially designated room with her mother, but starting in May 2021 she was transferred to a common herd. And after a little adaptation, which took place quite quickly, the modified cow is in the general herd.
Also, according to Sergiev, cloning a cow is just the first stage of a great experiment, as a result of which a full-fledged genetically modified individual should appear.
So far, scientists have tested and debugged the methodology before implanting GMO embryos. In addition, using the CRISPR / Cas9 technology (Nobel Prize 2020), our scientists also managed to "eliminate" the genes responsible for beta-lactoglobulin in cows.
Further plans and prospects
At the moment, scientists are busy preparing a new herd, consisting of several dozen cows, which in the future will carry GMO calves. And according to scientists, this is the first and very important step that will lay the foundation for genetic engineering in the Russian Federation. And in the future it will allow you to get "ideal" animals.
The scientists shared the results of the work already done on the pages of the Doklady Biochemistry and Biophysics magazine.
Well, progress cannot be stopped and the appearance of modified animals is only a matter of time, but it is good or bad for everyone to decide for himself (you can express your opinion in the comments).
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