Gene-edited beagles may offer a future option for people with dog allergies - AP News

Scientists at biotech company Kindred Companion Sciences used the CRISPR gene-editing technique to switch off the gene producing the main allergy-causing protein in dogs, creating hypoallergenic beagles named Bailey and Alfie in what they say is the first success of its kind in dogs.
The findings were published in the CRISPR Journal, and the edited dogs' saliva and hair no longer contain the key allergy-triggering protein, though the technique does not cure a person's underlying allergies.
Matt Walker, a geneticist involved in the work, said he could not previously pet a dog without sneezing but can now hold Bailey on his lap and play with her, describing his reaction as "relief and awe and gratitude that it worked."
Widespread availability remains years away, as researchers must monitor long-term health effects of the genetic change and find affordable ways to commercialize the approach.
Bioethicist Arthur Caplan of NYU's Grossman School of Medicine noted the technology could allow more people to own pets but warned it may discourage adoption of shelter and rescue animals that are not engineered to be allergy-free.
Earlier attempts at hypoallergenic pets relied mostly on cloning, which produced sicker, overly similar animals; two years ago CRISPR was used to lower an allergy protein in a cat named Alsik, though its safety for wider testing in cats is still unclear.