Scientists gene-edited the allergen out of these beagles

Alfie and Bailey aren’t like most dogs, or any dog that’s ever existed. Geneticists successfully used gene editing to rid the twin beagles of the main allergy-causing protein found in canines in a world first, biotech startup Kindred Companion Sciences announced yesterday.

Founder Matt Walker, a canine-allergic geneticist whose full name you probably shouldn’t say around dogs, both spearheaded and participated in the experiment:

• Scientists injected CRISPR-edited beagle skin cells into the egg of a beagle surrogate, who then birthed Alfie and Bailey in September 2024.
• Tests found no trace of the allergy-causing protein in either pup’s saliva or fur, and both of them were deemed healthy.
• Walker has kept Bailey as a pet for nearly two years, and said he’s never had an allergic reaction. In allergy prick tests, Walker’s skin didn’t react to the beagles, though it did react to a sample from a poodle and goldendoodle, which are known as hypoallergenic breeds.

Don’t get your credit card out yet, because pups like Alfie and Bailey are years away from becoming commercially available. That may be a bummer for people who weigh their love for dogs against the number of tissues in their bag, but maybe not for animal shelters—some experts said anti-allergy gene editing could steer prospective dog owners away from regular ol’ strays.—ML