Official announcements from the University of California at Davis or the Innovative Genomics Institute

Scientists Use CRISPR to Cut 30% of Global Warming by Engineering Cow Microbiome

Aug 25, 2024, 05:15 PM

Scientists at the University of California at Davis and the Innovative Genomics Institute are working on a groundbreaking project to genetically engineer the cow microbiome. This initiative aims to significantly reduce methane emissions, which are a major contributor to global warming. Cows are responsible for producing large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that accounts for 30 percent of global warming. By using advanced genetic tools like CRISPR to alter the microbes in the cow's stomach, researchers hope to eliminate these emissions. The average cow produces around 220 pounds of methane per year.