GMO hornless cow awaits approval amid FDA policy changes

Recombinetics
One of two genetically engineered calves is shown here lacking horn development

[In 2016], Recombinetics, the 35-person company [geneticist Scott Fahrenkrug] founded in 2008 with three other geneticists from the University of Minnesota, introduced its first genetically edited farm animal, a hornless Holstein milk cowโ€ฆ [Its] primary aim remains to supply gene-edited livestock to the agriculture industry, and Recombinetics says it can start doing that if, and about as soon as, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves. โ€œWe have several ยญmultimillion-dollar deals in the final steps of negotiations, down to the dots and titles,โ€ Fahrenkrug says.

 

The FDA remains a big if. Before the agency approved the first genetically modified animal for human consumption in 2015, a fast-growing species of Atlantic salmon, biotech company AquaBounty Technologies had to spend $80 million over close to two decades, eventually selling itself to biotech giant Intrexon to keep operating. And the odyssey isnโ€™t over: The FDA is developing more complex labeling requirements for the fish at the order of Congress.

The FDA told the company itโ€™d be subject to forthcoming regulations, issued in the final 48 hours of the Obama administration, that lumped in all DNA-altered animals with AquaBountyโ€™s salmon as a โ€œnew animal drugโ€ rather than a breeding process, subjecting them to much longer evaluation processes.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: This Genetics Company Is Editing Horns Off Milk Cows

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