Scientists at a biotech company have used gene editing to create two hypoallergenic beagles that don't trigger allergies, offering a potential future option for people with dog allergies. Matt Walker, a geneticist and dog lover, can now pet his beagle Bailey without sneezing, thanks to a Nobel prize-winning technique called Crispr.
How the hypoallergenic beagles were created
Walker's company, Kindred Companion Sciences, created Bailey and her twin Alfie by editing the genetic code inside dog skin cells, switching off the main gene responsible for producing allergy-causing proteins. The edited code was transferred into eggs that went into a beagle surrogate, which gave birth to two healthy female pups in September 2024. Tests on their saliva and fur found no signs of the allergy-causing protein.
An allergy test on Walker, who was pricked with extracts from Alfie and Bailey's saliva and dander, showed no reaction to the beagles, though he reacted to samples from a poodle and goldendoodle. The research, published in the Crispr Journal, is the first time such an approach has been successfully tried in dogs.
Potential and limitations
While the results are promising, it will take years before the millions who suffer from dog-related allergies can buy a hypoallergenic dog like Bailey. Scientists must monitor the long-term health effects of the genetic tweak and find ways to commercialize the approach affordably. Dr Jeff SoRelle, a pathologist at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, noted that since the switched-off gene is the main but not the only allergy-causing culprit, "we don't exactly know just how effective or broadly useful this could be for stopping dog allergy in humans."
Experts also warn of potential negative impacts on shelter animals. Bioethicist Arthur Caplan with New York University's Grossman School of Medicine said, "It opens the door to a lot more people being able to own pets. On the negative side, it may discourage people from trying to use strays and unwanted animals that are not engineered to be allergy-free."
Future research and implications
Kindred Companion Sciences hopes to test the technique on other dogs and service animals to breed an allergy-free line beyond beagles. Future research should test the gene-edited hypoallergenic dogs on more people with pet allergies to ensure they can soothe symptoms across a broader population, said SoRelle. The edit made to their genes is rare but does occur naturally in some dogs, so Walker said it's unlikely to have negative effects, but monitoring at routine vet visits is important.
Walker, who has had Bailey for over a year, says she's become a member of the family. Despite being a lifelong dog lover, his allergies kept him away from pups growing up. Now, he can play tug-of-war and snuggle with Bailey. "It feels just amazing to get to have a dog," he said.
