Researchers created healthy calves without essential embryonic protein
Scientists at LMU Munich reported on February 26, 2026, that two female calves were born after researchers used gene editing to remove interferon tau genes.
New method challenges old belief
For decades, experts assumed a specific protein was required for cattle pregnancies to succeed. A team led by Dr Asghar Ali removed all functional copies of the IFNT genes using CRISPR technology. The resulting embryos developed normally during their earliest stages despite lacking this signal.
Cloned embryos transferred to mothers
Researchers generated cloned embryos from these modified cell nuclei and placed them inside recipient animals. On February 26, 2026, two healthy female calves were born from these pregnancies. Both newborns were confirmed to lack the functional genes that produce interferon tau.
Reported by one outlet
Only one outlet has published this. Nothing here has been checked against a second report, so read it as that outlet's account and follow the link below for the original.
Reported by
1 independent outlet. Headline as published. Links open the original report.