Hens Gene Editing Might Save Billions of Male Chickens From Being Slaughtered Each Year

According to Israeli scientists, they have created gene-edited hens that only produce eggs that give rise to female chicks.

The discovery could stop the annual culling of billions of male chickens who are killed because they don't lay eggs.

Gene-edited hens could prevent the mass killing of chicks

(Photo : CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

The Golda chickens now have gene-edited DNA that can prevent any male embryos from developing in their laid eggs. The eggs are subjected to blue light for several hours, which activates the DNA, as per BBC News

Female chick embryos develop properly and are unaffected by blue light. Dr. Cinnamon claims that neither the eggs they lay nor the chicks themselves have any extra genetic material.

Since Dr. Cinnamon's team intends to license the technology through its spin-off company, Huminn Poultry, they have not disclosed their findings, making it impossible for scientists outside of the research group to evaluate the claims.

But the Israeli team collaborated with the UK-based Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), whose personnel visited the company and monitored the research for three years.

Once the measure is passed in the first few months of 2019, it is anticipated that regulations will be gradually loosened, allowing the technology to initially be utilized just for plants.

Government officials believe that GE is more socially acceptable than the more traditional method of genetic manipulation (GM). In order to manipulate genes, GE typically entails deleting DNA, whereas GM typically involves adding DNA, occasionally from a different species.

According to the CIWF, the egg-producing industry kills over seven billion male chicks every year shortly soon after they are born since they have no purpose for the enterprise that must manually separate males from females soon after they hatch, the process takes a lot of time.

Beginning this year, the German government outlawed the wholesale slaughter of male chicks. The French also have comparable suggestions that will commence at the beginning of the following year.

 Most other EU countries have voiced their disapproval of the practice, and many have demanded EU-wide legislation. On its position on the issue, the UK government is still silent.

Read More: GMO Feed is NOT Hurting Our Livestock, Say Researchers

Risk of genetically modified chicken

GM food is a contentious topic. Despite the fact that the majority of research shows that eating genetically modified food is safe, this sample essay investigates how the addition of extra hormones and other alterations to the food supply can have a detrimental impact on human health, as per Ultius.

Many of the foods that are currently on store shelves include a genetically modified component. Among these food items is chicken.

There are several health risks associated with eating genetically modified chickens and hens that are fed with GMO products, notwithstanding some claims that GMO chickens are healthier and increase national output.

The hormones that are injected into genetically engineered chickens to make them plumper, bigger, and grow at a faster rate are one of the risks they pose.

They experience health issues because of being tube-fed several antibiotics and growth hormones at high doses. The average chicken breast weighs seven times as much today as it did 25 years ago, according to PETA.

The chickens' excessive weight growth leads to heart attacks and lung problems, which ultimately kills them. Many hens die from heart failure because their heart and lungs could also keep up with the chicken's body's rapid growth.

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