Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a viral infection that primarily affects birds. In this case we are gonna touch on chickens specifically. It has been discovered a way to genetically modify chickens in order to prevent the spread of bird flu on farms. Being how fast and how detrimental the bird flu can be to farms it was important that scientists discovered a way to make these chickens resistant to the flu. ANP32A is the gene in the chicken that they are tweaking to make these results possible for chickens. This is the chosen gene because it is one that is essential for the virus's replication. Though this genetic testing is still in the works it could potentially help prevent chickens from becoming ill and infecting the rest of the livestock at farms.
This is a very interesting topic because it goes beyond things of importance you think about in your everyday life (unless you're a farmer). It would have never even crossed my mind that birds could be getting sick and spreading their illnesses to every other bird in the farm which could not only be fatal for the chickens but a very big economic loss for the farmer who relies on his livestock to survive. Things like this remind me how widespread science can be used to help make everyones lives easier and also increase our overall wellbeing.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/gene-editing-chicken-resistant-bird-flu
This is very interesting topic given that it will help prevent the spread of the avian influenza but I do wonder if this might encourage the unethical sourcing of chicken in factory-farming. I do understand it is a big industry but it is also unethical and given the fact that the chicken are placed so close together.
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