Graphical Abstract
Summary:
Conventional breeding methods have driven genetic progress in cattle. Genome editing, a novel breeding technique, can expedite the introduction of desirable traits into elite genetics in a single generation. Gene editing-mediated introgression of alleles has commonly been done with single-cell embryos, albeit often accompanied by the occurrence of mosaicism. In contrast, cloning using somatic cells effectively circumvents this problem but could come at the cost of lower pregnancy rates. The use of embryonic stem cells for cloning addresses both issues while allowing for multiplexed editing. Intended gene edits are usually target traits vital to the cattle industry, such as reduced disease susceptibility and heat tolerance. Remarkably, the United States, Brazil, and Argentina have allowed the commercialization of gene-edited cattle, with the latter 2 countries determining risk levels by the presence of transgenes. This differentiation based on risk-assessment criteria paves the way for the commercialization of genome-edited cattle and their associated products under conventional industry standards.