Scientists in Japan create first genetically modified marsupial
The IndependentSign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Scientists in Japan have bred the first ever genetically modified marsupial, breeding a litter of albino opossums using the gene-editing technique CRISPR. The new research could help scientists get a better understanding of unique marsupial biology, such as the pouches some carry their young in, as well provide insight into human health. CRISPR, which is short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat, is scissor-like technology which uses a highly manipulatable protein that scientists can programme to bind to a specific section of DNA and cut it, which often introduces mutations when the DNA heals and disables the gene involved.
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