From Fiona Vincent
Michael Le Page writes that gene editing can make cattle hornless “without affecting any of their other traits” (15 August, p 10). Can we be sure of this?
In humans, a single gene is implicated in the illness thalassemia, so it might be considered desirable to edit it out. But the same gene also provides protection against malaria – a potentially valuable trait.
St Andrews, Fife, UK
