Glowing Rabbits: The Future of Gene-Edited Pets

- The Los Angeles Project is using Crispr gene-editing technology to create genetically modified pets
- The company has already successfully added a gene to rabbit embryos to make them produce green fluorescent protein
- The company plans to transfer the engineered embryos to female rabbits soon
- The Los Angeles Project also plans to make cats that lack the primary allergen that cats produce
- The company aims to make animals more complex, interesting, and unique
- The use of gene-editing technology for commercial purposes raises concerns about ethics and safety
The Los Angeles Project, founded by biohacker Josie Zayner and biotech entrepreneur Cathy Tie, is using Crispr gene-editing technology to create a new generation of pets. The company has already successfully added a gene to rabbit embryos to make them produce green fluorescent protein, and plans to transfer the engineered embryos to female rabbits soon. If successful, the company will have glowing baby bunnies in a month. The Los Angeles Project also plans to make cats that lack the primary allergen that cats produce, as well as more ambitious creations like unicorns. However, the use of gene-editing technology for commercial purposes raises concerns about the ethics and safety of such technology, and the company will need to navigate regulatory issues and public perception.