Progress of the Application of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing Technology in Pig Breeding

Abstract

China has a long history in the artificial domestication of wild boars. Many swine breeds with local characteristics have been bred in combination with local conditions, making China become the country with the richest swine resources in the world. Generally, most indigenous swine breeds in China present excellent meat quality traits such as delicate tenderness and high intramuscular fat content, but also show slower growth rate, lower lean meat rate, and lower feed conversion ratio when compared to western swine breeds. Although cross-breeding through introducing western lean swine lineage could improve the growth and meat yield of indigenous swine breeds, there are adverse effects on meat quality traits. In addition, the introduction of western swine breeds has already brought a serious impact on local swine breeds, leading to a sharp decline in the number of many indigenous swine breeds in China, and even being threatened with extinction. The application of gene editing technology has brought many breakthroughs in the genetic improvement of indigenous swine breeds. Here, we review the developmental history of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, and progress of its application in the genetic improvement of swine, including reproduction, meat yield, disease resistance, and sex controlling. This review will facilitate to understand the special role of gene editing technology in domestic pig breeding.

Keywords

• pig breeding
• crispr/cas
• base editor system
• reproductivity
• meat production trait
• disease-resistance