Cows deliver healthy calves without embryonic protein long thought essential for pregnancy
For decades, scientists have believed that a protein called interferon tau (IFNT) is indispensable for pregnancy in cattle. Produced by the early embryo, it was thought to signal its presence to the mother and prevent the hormonal changes that would otherwise end the pregnancy.
Recent research published in Nature Communications has challenged the long-held belief that interferon tau (IFNT) is essential for cattle pregnancy. LMU scientists discovered that cattle embryos completely lacking IFNT can still establish and maintain pregnancies, even giving birth to healthy calves. Led by Dr. Asghar Ali and Professor Eckhard Wolf, the team used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to eliminate all functional copies of the IFNT genes in bovine cells, generating embryos that developed normally during the earliest stages.
Despite the absence of IFNT, the researchers confirmed that two calves, born on February 26, 2026, had no functional IFNT genes. While the maternal uterus lacked the typical interferon-driven response, pregnancies continued, suggesting that alternative signaling mechanisms, such as prostaglandin E2, may help maintain the hormonal conditions required for pregnancy.
This discovery could lead to improved reproductive efficiency in livestock and better understanding of early pregnancy loss.
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