The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: doganjo on October 27, 2023, 06:19:48 pm

Title: Avian flu resistant poultry
Post by: doganjo on October 27, 2023, 06:19:48 pm

Anybody seen this?
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/oct/10/worlds-first-flu-resistant-chickens-could-pave-way-for-gene-edited-uk-poultry?mc_cid=63f8cd1b24&mc_eid=9676c13a03

Title: Re: Avian flu resistant poultry
Post by: Fleecewife on October 28, 2023, 11:11:16 pm

Very interesting!  However, the article says itself that the virus can mutate to bypass the edited gene and use others to replicate, which would make the situation very much worse.  I think this is research at a very early stage.  Once that is sorted out, we have to consider how it could be used to help wild birds in their huge variety.
We are all aware of the word 'accidental' on this site, and it seems to me that the opportunity for accidental disasters is enormous.  Our scientists need to tread very very carefully.