Gene-Edited Beagles Are Cloned To Help Cure Certain Breeds Of Genetic Diseases

Some pure-bred dogs get their “designer” features from years of inbreeding, leading to a host of genetic conditions that are subsequently inherited by their young. In hopes to break this cycle, scientists in South Korea have successfully cloned gene-edited dogs, a world first.

The two beagle dogs were born from cloned skin cells that were CRISPR gene-edited—as opposed to fertilized eggs, the usual materials for cloning. By altering replicated cells, researchers were able to remove the harmful DJ-1 gene, which is linked to Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and stroke.

Two beagles have been born from cloned skin cells altered by CRISPR gene editing, in an approach that could be used to make pure-bred pedigree dogs healthier https://t.co/mrcR6tvBnq

— New Scientist (@newscientist) July 24, 2022

Pure-bred dogs are most susceptible to genetic diseases since there is a lack of diversity in their gene pool. As a result of these mutations, flat-faced breeds like pugs and French bulldogs, for instance, are destined to live with breathing restrictions.

ToolGen, a biotechnology firm from South Korea, aims to cure dogs of such pathogenic mutations even before they are born. By breeding pooches from cloned, genetically-modified cells, they are able to retain desirable traits like appearance and temperament while eliminating disease-causing mutations.

The process, called somatic cell nuclear transfer, involves the removal of the nucleus of an egg cell, and this nucleus is then replaced with that of another body cell.

Here, a beagle skin cell was used to sub in for the old nucleus—but it’s not just any beagle skin cell. Its DNA was modified via CRISP editing, which is somewhat like using a pair of “genetic scissors” to cut away unwanted areas of the genome.

After which, the egg clone is artificially inseminated into a surrogate mother. The experiment saw 68 gene-edited embryos being inserted into six female dogs, of which one became pregnant to the lab-altered beagles.

While CRISPR’s positive implications are apparent, it’s also been widely criticized for potentially causing unwanted mutations and possibly giving rise to a new generation of “designer” babies.

ToolGen, however, reports that the two puppies are healthy. At 22 months old, the beagles have not encountered any health problems, though it’s worth noting that the effects of DJ-1 will take time to develop. The gene is linked to several age-related diseases, so it’s too early to know if the pooches are finally free from the shackles of related genetic conditions.

The researchers, who have published their findings in the BMC Biotechnology journal, say they will continue monitoring the beagles to assess the full impact of the gene-editing.

[via New Scientist, IFLScience, The Telegraph, images via various sources]