China is currently using the gene-editing tool CRISPR for a wide range of applications, from agriculture, to editing genes in animals, to medicine.
In fact, when it comes to animal genome-editing, Chinese researchers were actually the first to harness CRISPR in monkeys, and the country now has several groups of researchers conducting gene editing in large colonies of monkeys.
Exploiting CRISPR’s speed and precision, researchers have been able to create monkey models of muscular dystrophy, autism, and cancer.
Researchers in the country have also used CRISPR on dogs, mice, rats, pigs and rabbits, with the research potentially being able to offer higher quality meats, disease-resistant livestock, and new medical treatments and organs for transplantations.
So, genetic engineering in China is definitely starting to take off, and with the large-scale investment being poured into genetic engineering and the amount of research being done using CRISPR technology, China could be poised to lead the way in the field in the near future, especially if they ensure their regulatory guidelines stay in line with international standards.
