Gene-edited beagles may offer a future option for people with dog allergies
Matt Walker couldn't pet a dog without sneezing—until he and other scientists used a gene editing technique to produce a hypoallergenic beagle named Bailey.
Scientists have successfully created hypoallergenic beagles named Bailey and Alfie using gene editing technology. Matt Walker, a geneticist, was unable to pet a dog without experiencing sneezing fits until this breakthrough. Bailey and Alfie were born in September 2024 after scientists edited the genetic code of their skin cells to switch off the gene responsible for producing allergy-causing proteins.
The edited beagles lack detectable levels of the target protein, and their saliva and fur did not trigger an allergic reaction in Walker. However, long-term health effects, effectiveness across different populations, and potential impact on shelter and rescue animals need further evaluation.
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