Gene-editing advances win a regulatory nod

Dr. Jon Oatley, associate dean for research for the College of Veterinary Medicine and a professor at Washington State University discusses advances in gene-editing in livestock, a technique that alters an animal’s genetic code to focus on desired traits. His team recently received U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigational authorization to create food for humans from gene-edited pigs in a process that is akin to traditional selective breeding. Gene-editing also could play an important role in meeting the growing global demand for protein over the next few decades.