[ad_1]
ANIMALS – A cat is cute, but for 3% of the French population, it is mostly synonymous with allergy. And unfortunately, the only 100% effective treatment is not to be exposed to the animal.
Two US companies want to change that, reports Thursday, July 19 the MIT Technology Review. Indoor Biotechnologies and Felix Pets have the same idea: genetically modify cats embryos to make them hypoallergenic
Because the allergy caused by the cat depends only on a very specific protein, called Fel d 1, produced by a cat. gene clearly identified. The idea of both companies would be to create cats that do not have the gene for the production of Fel d 1.
Genetic scissors
Indoor Biotechnology, specialized in treatment and detection In 2016, the two documents refer to a gene-editing technology that has been in vogue in recent years: Crispr-Cas9.
These genetic scissors make it possible to target a very specific gene in the huge DNA code of a living being and cut it. It is then possible to let the cell recreate another version of the gene, hoping that it will not be exactly the same, or even replace it with another, thanks to other genetic editing tools.
Still, says the MIT Technology Review, the two companies have shown no evidence of a genetically modified cat at the moment. And even if they managed to edit a feline cell, the road will be long to have a viable embryo, then to breed a kitten.
Will also remain to see if a cat without the gene that produces the protein in question will be in good health or not. And to know how to create a real profitable breeding of this type of cat. If the idea is promising, there are still many obstacles to overcome before hypoallergenic cats allow allergies to enjoy a pet feline.
To see also The HuffPost ]:
Read also:
• Hybrid embryos, the first step in a crazy plan to save white rhinos
• Researchers will create mini-brains with Neanderthal DNA
] • Subscribe to our YouTube channel
• To follow the latest news from C'est Demain, click here
• Every morning, receive the free newsletter of HuffPost
• Find us on our Facebook page
[ad_2]
Source link
