Gene-Edited Puppies Will Melt Your Heart—but Won’t Trigger Your Allergies
A startup has created beagles without the gene that causes runny noses and watery eyes for allergy sufferers.
Two beagles, Bailey and Alfie, are breaking barriers in the field of gene editing as they eliminate the protein responsible for triggering allergies in humans. Founded in 2020 by entrepreneur Dr. Walker, Kindred Companion Sciences developed these special pups to help those suffering from dog allergies. The process involved using Crispr technology to remove the Can f 1 protein, which is found in a dog's dander, hair, and saliva.
After sequencing the dogs' DNA and conducting skin prick tests, researchers confirmed that the edited dogs lacked the allergen. Walker, who volunteered to test the effectiveness of the gene editing on himself, has been living with Bailey for a year and a half without any allergic reactions. This breakthrough could pave the way for other hypoallergenic dog breeds, enhancing the bond between humans and their canine companions.
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