Gene-editing Alpine goats for resistance to prion disease

This paper describes the creation of PRNP-knockout Alpine goats using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing targeting the prion protein gene. Ten live offspring were produced, eight of which carried mutated alleles predicted to abolish prion protein expression. A male goat homozygous for the knockout allele has been bred with normal females to establish a line of prion-resistant goats. The work demonstrates the feasibility of generating livestock with genetic resistance to scrapie and other prion diseases, offering potential improvements in animal health, farm biosecurity, and reduced reliance on traditional disease management. Future studies will assess the health and productivity of these goats under farming conditions and compare this approach with selective breeding.