About 15% of the world's population suffers from dog allergies, making it impossible for many to own a pet. The main culprit is a protein called Can f 1, found in dogs' saliva and dander. However, biotech company Kindred Companion Sciences has found a solution, reports infohub.kz.
Using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, scientists disabled the gene responsible for producing Can f 1. The modified DNA was inserted into mature egg cells taken from donor beagles. As a result, two puppies, Alfie and Bailey, were born without the allergenic protein.
Initial results, published in The CRISPR Journal, show that Can f 1 is undetectable in both puppies' saliva and fur. Veterinarians confirmed normal development, and genome sequencing revealed no unwanted off-target mutations. Skin tests on a volunteer with allergies showed no reaction to samples from the edited dogs.
Company founder Matt Walker noted that this technology could allow sensitive individuals to own pets without health risks. However, the genetically edited dogs are still in the research stage and have not been approved by regulators for sale.