Scientists have genetically engineered pigs to resist classical swine fever, creating a potentially powerful new weapon against a disease that threatens herds of hundreds of millions of animals across the world.
The DNA edit stopped the virus replicating and delivered total protection against infection, with no observable effect on the creatures’ health and development, the research team from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute said.
Classical swine fever remains a costly scourge for the global pork industry, particularly outside Europe and the US. The work boosts the growing body of research using targeted DNA edits to control diseases in livestock.