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Gene editing makes calves resistant to bovine tuberculosis

Genetic researchers in China claim they have successfully edited the bovine genome to make it resistant to bovine tuberculosis.

In a study published in Genome Biology, the team of scientists at Northwest A&F University in Shaanxi, China say they used CRISPR Cas9n technology to introduce the resistant gene to 11 calves.

The team inserted the nucleus of the donor cells into bovine ova.  The embryos were then transferred into recipient cows.  The new calves have shown increased resistance to bovine TB.  The scientists believe this is the first time Cas9n technology has been used in livestock.

The research report is published in the journal Genome Biology.