🕒 Created

Matt Walker leads a New York City company in creating the first hypoallergenic beagles using CRISPR technology.

Matt Walker, the owner of Kindred Companion Sciences, led a study to create hypoallergenic beagles using CRISPR gene-editing technology. The research, published in The CRISPR Journal, describes a process where researchers edited the DNA of beagle skin cells to switch off the gene responsible for producing Canis familiaris allergen 1, or Can f 1. This protein is responsible for the majority of allergic reactions in people who are allergic to dogs, which affects approximately 15% of the population. Researchers transferred the edited DNA into eggs that were implanted into a surrogate beagle mother, who gave birth to two healthy female puppies named Alfie and Bailey in late 2024. To test the results, Matt Walker performed skin prick tests on his own arm using extracts from the two genetically edited beagles. His arm showed no allergic reaction to the extracts from Alfie and Bailey, while showing reactions to extracts from other breeds like poodles and goldendoodles. While the procedure is a proof-of-concept study, Kindred Companion Sciences has submitted a patent for the procedure. Veterinarian Emily Singler noted that while the technology may not compete with the cost of shelter adoption, it could potentially influence pet owners to choose gene-edited pets over rescue animals.

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