South Korea has created a GM cow for the production of hypoallergenic beef

Two South Korean companies ToolGen and Latbio have created a genetically modified cow designed to produce artificial blood that can be used in xenotransplantation, as well as to produce hypoallergenic beef. 

In SOUTH KOREA, there is a growing crisis associated with an acute shortage of donor blood. This year, the government approved a new grant of 47.1 billion won ($36.9 million ) over the next 5 years to develop artificial blood technology.

it is reported that an antigen that is recognized by the human body as foreign was removed from a cow created by Korean companies using CRISP-Cas9 technology. According to experts, this antigen provokes rejection in blood transfusions, and is also a key factor in triggering the immune rejection reaction in xenotransplantation (organ transplantation from one species to another). The same factor is the cause of allergy to red MEAT .

The modified cows will be bred and kept in a specially equipped barn for living modified organisms at the Animal Research Institute in Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Representatives of the companies emphasized that in order to apply the new development in practice, it is necessary to amend the legislation, which currently allows the use of artificial blood only in research and prohibits the use of meat from genetically modified animals in food.