New Research may be able to Produce Hypoallergenic Kitties with Genetic Modification
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/scientists-work-tame-cat-allergies-crispr-vaccine-food-therapy
A company named Allerca tried producing cats that didn’t have the two genes that cause allergies within humans. They also tried breeding cats with versions of those genes that would make them less allergenic. Unfortunately, their attempts didn’t work. People had ordered their allergen-free kitties for thousands of dollars but the customers either got cats that still triggered their allergies or didn’t get a cat at all. Lawsuits against Allerca started piling up. Hope for allergy-free kitties shouldn’t be lost, however, because a separate company named Indoor Biotechnologies went about a different route to solve this issue. They realized that it wasn’t the genes that were causing cats to be allergenic but instead the protein that those genes coded: Fel d1. This protein is mainly produced in the salivary glands and it spreads to the cat’s fur when it licks itself clean. It can then spread to humans and their houses, causing severe allergic reactions in many people. Using a gene-editing technology called CRISPR/Cas 9, researchers are trying to knock out the CH1 and CH2 genes that produce the Fel d1 protein. The only issue is that scientists do not know if cats need the Fel d1 protein to be healthy. This is only the start of the research and Indoor Biotechnologies has a long way to go until it can produce fully hypoallergenic cats.
Questions: Is gene editing on cats ethical? Is the cost ($4,000+) of these cats worth it? Are desensitization shots a better option since researchers don’t yet know if cats require Fel d1 protein to be healthy?
https://images.app.goo.gl/xdrg34EoMy2UKmc29
I think desensitization shots are definitely a better option if they do not know how Fel d1 affects cats. We also have to think of the future of cats and if they are hurt from the lack of the protein it is going to be awful. I do not think we should be changing cats genes to benefit us we already do so much gene changing in cats and other animals, we should just be looking to testing on humans who want to find a way to be able to have cats and are okay with getting tested.
ReplyDelete-Angeline Upchurch
I believe that gene editing on cats is not ethical. As we need to place limits on human genetic modification and this modification would not be essential to the cats' survival, I believe that this would blur the lines on what genetic modification is acceptable. The cost of these cats may be worth it to some people, however, my whole family is allergic to cats and I doubt that they would be willing to spend that much. Shots are a much better option as we don't know the need for the protein, and it is not ethical.
ReplyDelete- Carissa Bersche
I do not think that gene editing on the cats is ethical. I dont feel that its right for us to modify these cats when we dont have any standpoint on how this genetic editing is going to effect and harm them. Tough love, but I dont see how its right to harm cats just because someone wants one and they're allergic; if we were to do this how is this any different from products being non cruelty free, those products were also tested on animals just for the benefit of humans which many people are against so it should be the same with this case.
ReplyDelete-Raquel Morgens
I think gene editing on the cats is not ethical. I have an issue with the specific reasoning behind it. In this case, they want to gene edit on the cats to make them hypoallergenic for us humans. It's not like the gene editing is helping them with a disease of life threatening condition, it only helps a few people out when it comes to their allergies. I think it's very selfish to put the cats through that to only benefit us, especially since scientists don't know if the Fel d1 gene is essential to their health/well being.
ReplyDeleteTrinity Mathis
I know in certain countries (South Korea) it's legal to clone pets and mess with their genes but I don't think that's right. I think humans should stop messing with animals genes, look what we did to pugs. Their snouts are so small it's hard for them to breath and their eyes bulge out of their socket- so sad. So let's just leave the cats alone. If someone's allergic stay away from cats.
ReplyDelete-Ilori
I don't like the idea of gene editing on cats. I feel as if you have a cat allergy just try to make sure you don't be around one or get one. Changing a cat gene so people won't be allergic is kind of crazy.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa Butts
I think that it's unethical to gene edit cats for the benefit of humans. There is no research that proves that cats don't need the Fel d1 gene and it's extreme to wipe out the gene. There are other options for humans to lessen their allergies so they should stick to those. -Shirin Saha
ReplyDelete