Gene-Edited Pigs Could End Swine Fever Outbreaks

Scottish scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in animal health by engineering pigs that are resistant to classical swine fever—a deadly and highly contagious disease that has devastated pig farms around the world. In controlled trials, the gene-edited pigs remained completely healthy even after exposure to the virus, which continues to cause major losses in global pork production, according to The Guardian.

The United Kingdom officially eradicated classical swine fever in 1966, yet sporadic outbreaks since then have forced the culling of tens of thousands of pigs. Meanwhile, countries such as China and Brazil continue to battle the disease through costly vaccination efforts.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute—famous for developing Dolly the sheep, the world’s first cloned adult mammal—discovered that a small genetic modification to a protein vital for viral replication could make pigs immune to infection. Pigs with the altered gene showed no symptoms or signs of illness, while unmodified pigs became sick.

“Classical swine fever is a devastating disease for livestock and farmers,” said Helen Crooke of the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency. She added that using gene-edited pigs “would help ensure sustainable livestock production and healthier, happier animals,” according to New Scientist.

Tests also showed that the gene edit had no negative effects on the pigs’ overall health, reproduction, or offspring. Scientists are now investigating whether the same technique could be used to protect cattle and sheep from related viruses.

The breakthrough comes as several countries—including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Brazil—are moving to relax regulations on gene-edited livestock, a step that could accelerate the path from laboratory success to widespread agricultural use.

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