The Chinese biotech company BGI plans to sell pigs that are genetically modified to grow to about 33 pounds as pets, reports the Los Angeles Times. “The pint-size porkers were created through a process known as gene editing” that prevents cells from receiving a signal to grow.
BGI displayed its “teacup” pigs at a biotech conference last month. It was unclear if the company plans to sell the animals outside of China. If Americans want them, U.S. regulators would have to decide whether to allow imports. BGI created the pigs for use as laboratory animals for studying human diseases and says it will sell them for $1,600 each.
A biotechnology expert at UC-Davis, Alison Van Eenennaam, told the Times that BGI’s plan reflected a “global regulatory gridlock” over genetically modified animals for food production and other serious purposes. No biotech animals have been approved for food. The FDA has mulled for years a genetically engineered salmon. “Bioengineered pets, though, have found easier acceptance,” said the Times. “A transgenic fluorescent fish, marketed under the brand GloFish, has been popular for a number of years in the United States.”