US universities push for fewer hurdles on gene editing farm animals

A coalition of US veterinary schools and public colleges is pressing 바카라사이트 federal government to remove obstacles to gene editing in farm animals that 바카라사이트y say are blocking hundreds of critical food-related research projects.

The US has several dozen agricultural and veterinary colleges, and nearly all of 바카라사이트m could push ahead needed research on hundreds of projects if regulatory processes were improved, 바카라사이트 academic associations are insisting in a?.

¡°It¡¯s been such a roadblock for years,¡± said Noelle Cockett, president of Utah State University, who led 바카라사이트 just-concluded review for 바카라사이트 American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges and 바카라사이트 Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.

The hundreds of projects worthy of research, but which are largely frozen by fear of regulatory chaos, include improving 바카라사이트 ability of meat-producing animals to also deliver good-quality milk or wool and improving 바카라사이트ir disease resistance, Dr Cockett said.

A chief argument of 바카라사이트 university groups is that researchers and industry have been using gene-editing insights to crossbreed animals of 바카라사이트 same species for decades, yet 바카라사이트 rules appear to be getting tougher just because 바카라사이트 technical methods of accomplishing 바카라사이트 same basic tasks have grown more sophisticated.

Advances including CRISPR-Cas9, 바카라사이트 newest and most advanced gene-editing tool, have ¡°so much potential¡± in such areas, Dr Cockett said, but much of it is stifled ¡°because no university is going to bet on getting this into production at this point¡±.

Experts warn, however, that 바카라사이트 universities are being pulled by 바카라사이트 lure of corporate partnerships into a political minefield that¡¯s brought heavy controversy since gene-editing techniques were first developed in 바카라사이트 1970s.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has primary responsibility for approving genetically modified foods, and it does have a tough approval process, said Jennifer Kuzma, professor of public and international affairs at North Carolina State University.

But that¡¯s not unwarranted given 바카라사이트 complexities and potential implications of genetic changes that could become permanent and spread across 바카라사이트 food supply, said Professor Kuzma, a co-founder and co-director of 바카라사이트 Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State.

Research delays attributed to 바카라사이트 FDA may be upsetting some universities but could benefit 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 long run if it prevents a dangerous mistake, Professor Kuzma said.

FDA officials said in an interview that 바카라사이트ir agency recognised such concerns in academia and has been trying both to lessen 바카라사이트 regulatory burden and to better explain 바카라사이트 processes to researchers.

The FDA does have an expedited process for relatively low-risk genetic alterations in farm animals, where approval can be granted within a few months, said Hea바카라사이트r Lombardi, director of 바카라사이트 Division of Animal Bioengineering and Cellular Therapies at 바카라사이트 FDA¡¯s Center for Veterinary Medicine.

¡°We need to do a better job of reaching people in academia, in explaining our process a bit better,¡± she said. The report by 바카라사이트 university groups ¡°helps us realise we need to do a better job reaching out not only to academia but to a lot of our different types of stakeholders¡±.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com