Use genetic modification tools to create super-muscular dogs

A super-muscular dog was created with a genetic modification tool by Chinese scientists. The goal of the project is to create experimental objects to study degenerative diseases in humans, and also a breakthrough in creating customized pets according to human desire.

CRISPR - a tool to help transform genes to create muscle dogs

The method that researchers use to regulate genes is CRISPR - a cheap and extremely powerful tool to refine genetic information. Over the years, biologists have used this cut-and-paste technique to regulate the genetic information of the human embryo, using it to create superior fruits, creating dual-muscled pigs. and super small pigs. In addition, CRISPR is also applied to adjust genes of goats, rabbits and monkeys.

Now, scientists want to use CRISPR to disable myostatin gene (MSTN) in rabbits that beagles, which increases about twice the muscle mass. According to the researchers, the super-muscular dog could be used for hunting, dog sighting or military applications. However, the ultimate goal of the experiment is to create genetically modified dogs to study Parkinson's disease or muscular dystrophy.

The study's co-author, Liangxue Lai, said: "The aim of the study is to discover a new approach, using dogs as biomedical models. Dogs are very close to humans about metabolism. , physiology and anatomy ". The project will be carried out at the Biological Laboratory of Guangzhou Biomedical Research Institute. According to the plan, 65 embryos will be genetically adjusted, 27 puppies will be born and only 2, 1 male is disabled myostatin gene.

However, the group said that despite being genetically modified, it was still incomplete and part of the muscle in the first dog body still produced myostatin. However, for the remaining individual, myostatin has been completely disabled and its muscular characteristics are completely expressed. Typically, its thigh muscles are much larger than others.

The rabbit hound has a natural myostatin mutation that causes muscle mass to double.

When myostatin is interrupted, the body will not be able to produce proteins that inhibit muscle production. The end result is more muscle mass than normal. In the past, a number of human cases also developed this hypertrophic disease due to congenital gene mutations.

Through genetic research and examining the relationship of muscle integration and disintegration, scientists hope to find a way to treat degenerative disorders in humans. However, it is illegal to apply CRISPR technology on humans at present, so using a dog as a test object can provide additional clues in the healing process.

Scientists also said they do not intend to raise dogs as pets, but this opens up a new direction in the field of pets. Perhaps in the future, one can choose a dog, cat, rabbit, . with a variety of genetic traits that can be selected at will, even changing intelligence, temperament, physical size and color, .