An intentional genomic alteration (IGA) has been approved for cattle to allow for expression of a short slick-hair coat trait.  An IGA usually includes application of genome editing using CRISPR and once effected, the gene is transmitted to offspring.  The modification as approved by FDA parallels naturally-occurring mutations that result in the same phenotype.  Short, slick-hair coats are advantageous under hot weather conditions. The approval is a precedent for the application of CRISPR technology in other livestock potentially including poultry.

Dr. Steven M. Solomon director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine stated, “Today’s decision underscores our commitment to using a risk and science-based data-driven process that focuses on safety for the animals containing intentional genomic alterations and the safety of people who eat the food produced by these animals.”  He added, “We expect that our decision will encourage other developers to bring animal biotechnology product forward for safety and risk determination in this rapidly developing field, paving the way for animals containing low- risk IGAs to more efficiently reach the marketplace.”