China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (1): 1-14.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2026.01.001

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Progress on Gene Editing Technology and Its Application in Breeding of Pigs

ZHANG Hanbing(), GUO Yaping, ZHANG Jiaqing, REN Qiaoling, CHEN Junfeng, LIU Fujiu, WANG Jing(), XING Baosong()   

  1. Henan Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry,Henan Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Breeding and Nutritional Regulation,Institute of Animal Husbandry,Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Zhengzhou 450002,China
  • Revised:2025-08-27 Online:2026-01-05 Published:2025-12-26
  • Contact: WANG Jing, XING Baosong E-mail:z13783826050@163.com;wangjing@hnagri.org.cn;xingbaosong@hnagri.org.cn

Abstract:

Gene editing is an important tool for precise modification of specific gene sequences in the genome to achieve molecular breeding. The rapid development of gene editing technology has provided a new approach for modern molecular breeding in pigs, significantly improving breeding efficiency. This technology has undergone three generations of evolution: ①Zinc finger nuclease (ZFNs) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) laid the foundation for targeted editing but had the drawbacks of complex operation and high cost. ②The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system made a breakthrough, among which iGeoCas9 improved thermal stability and editing activity by a hundredfold through structural modification, and the miniaturization of Cas protein optimized delivery efficiency. ③Base editors achieved precise single-base conversion, and the guide editing system broke through type limitations, supporting free base conversion and small fragment modification. In pig breeding, this technology improves meat quality, enhances growth performance, optimizes reproductive efficiency, and strengthens disease resistance, it also enables innovative applications such as cold resistance and environmental protection. Compared with traditional breeding, gene editing technology can shorten the cycle and maintain genetic diversity, but it faces challenges such as insufficient editing efficiency, off-target risks, and industrialization barriers. This article systematically reviews the gene editing technological development and breeding applications, aiming to provide references for optimizing the performance of editing tools and establishing a safe industrialization system, promoting technological innovation, and supporting the progress of pig breeding technology and the sustainable development of the industry.

Key words: gene editing; CRISPR; pigs; breeding

CLC Number: