Particle.news
Download on the App Store
7 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Argentina Reports Birth of First Triple‑Knockout Pig in Latin America

Researchers say the April birth is an early step toward using genetically edited pigs to ease organ shortages but years of gene edits, safety tests and INCUCAI approval lie ahead.

Image
El animal nació en abril y fue gestado a partir de un clon porcino con tres modificaciones genéticas.
Nació el primer cerdo clonado de Argentina.
El nacimiento de este ejemplar es solo el primer paso de un plan a largo plazo.

Overview

  • Researchers disclosed in early July that the piglet was born in April after UBA veterinarians carried a pregnancy from 120 edited embryos and that two more sows are now pregnant with clones.
  • The animal is a 'triple knockout' with GGTA1, CMAH and B4GalNT2 disabled to reduce hyperacute immune rejection, a change meant to stop the fastest forms of organ attack by a human immune system.
  • The work was done by a consortium of the Universidad de Buenos Aires, UNSAM’s Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas and the startup CrofaBiotech, with UBA handling the embryo transfer and neonatal care.
  • Next steps include inserting roughly seven human genes (knock‑ins), blocking growth hormones to size organs for people, extensive preclinical trials and formal certification by INCUCAI before any human tests.
  • The project aims to address Argentina’s critical transplant waitlist and low donor rate and places the country alongside U.S. and China efforts, but researchers say funding, ethical review and years of safety work will determine whether it can help patients.