Genetically modifying chickens to be resistant to bird flu

Scientists at the University of Arizona have used CRISPR-Cas9 to genetically modify chickens and make them resistant to avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. The researchers targeted a gene called ANP32, which is necessary for the flu virus to replicate. By editing this gene, the virus was unable to bind to the protein and could not proliferate. In experiments, the gene-edited chickens had a lower viral load and were less likely to spread the virus to other birds. This could potentially be a valuable tool to control and prevent the spread of bird flu.