Scottish scientists have successfully altered the genetic code of pigs in a bid to make them resilient to African swine fever.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute have used a gene-editing technique to modify individual letters of the pigs’ genetic code.
By altering the genetic code to a version of a gene that is usually found in warthogs and bush pigs, researchers believe they may be able to stop pigs from becoming ill from African swine fever.
The highly contagious disease, which is spread by ticks, kills up to two-thirds of infected animals, however warthogs and bush pigs show no disease symptoms when infected.
The disease is endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa and some areas of Russia.
It has never been found in the UK, however recent outbreaks in eastern Europe have raised concerns among farming groups that it could spread. The scientists have focused on the pig genes associated with the disease, called Rela.
Warthogs and bush pigs have a different version of the Rela gene from that found in farmed pigs and scientists believe this variant, known as an allele, may dampen their immune response to the disease and explain why they are more resilient to African Swine Fever.
According to the researchers, by changing just five letters in the Rela gene of farmed pigs, they have converted it to the allele found in warthogs and bush pigs.
This is the first time alleles in an animal’s genetic code has been swapped successfully using gene editing.
Scientists will now conduct controlled trials to test whether the genetic changes have improved the pigs’ resilience to the disease.
“Our goal is to improve the welfare of farmed pigs around the world, making them healthier and more productive for farmers,” said Professor Bruce Whitelaw, head of development biology at the Roslin.