News in Brief Genetics

CRISPR used in cows to help fight tuberculosis

dairy cows

The CRISPR/Cas 9 system could give dairy cows a protein that helps fight off bovine tuberculosis.

Scott Bauer/USDA

By Helen Thompson

- More than 2 years ago

Mooooove over CRISPR chickens, pigs and goats. The powerful gene-editing tool is another step closer to transforming the barnyard.

Researchers at China’s Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University tailored a CRISPR/Cas 9 technique to give cloned dairy cows a leg up against the bacteria behind bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis), a threat to cows in many parts of the world.