Edited chickens bring hope for rare breeds

Chicken pic of the day web — Scientists have re-purposed hens so that rather than producing their own young they can be used as surrogates to lay eggs from rare bird breeds. A research team from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute utilised advanced gene-editing techniques targeting a crucial fertility gene known as DDX4. The development could assist in the breeding of endangered bird species as well as improving the production of commercial hens.

Credit: Norrie Russell, The Roslin Institute

Originally published by Cosmos as Edited chickens bring hope for rare breeds

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