Biohacker’s attempt to save dalmatians from crippling genetic problems halted by cruel bureaucrats
Bid to free much-loved dogs of congenital illnesses stifled by red tape
A BLOKE trying to rid a dog breed of crippling health problems thanks to years of inbreeding has been stopped by meddling bureaucrats.
Mississippi Kennel owner David Ishee was banned from working on gene editing technology from his back-garden shed.
The US Food and Drug Administration got wind of Ishee's plans and told him he was banned from breeding dogs this way.
Ishee is one of several "bio-hackers" using inexpensive technology to manipulate plant and animal genes for the greater good.
He believes that by repairing a single DNA letter in Dalmatian's genomes, he can rid them of a common disease.
Dalmatians are prone to Hyperuricemia, which can cause painful kidney stones.
Ishee earlier this year sent the FDA a proposal on how to edit out this health issue, and with no regulation restrictions in place, expected not to hear back.
But shortly after sending in his sketch the official department made a blanket ban on gene editing cattle or pets.
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"Now that the technology exists, we have an ethical obligation to do something about the genetic problems we created," says Ishee.
"It’s a horrible disease, they all have it, and nobody seems to be willing to fix it."
But biohackers can still alter their own bodies.
One randy sort who installed headphones into his ears now wants to turn his penis into a battery-powered vibrator.
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