The Nobel prize in Chemistry has been awarded to the developers of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology.
American biochemist Jennifer Doudna and French microbiologist Emmanuelle Charpentier created the technology to precisely change the DNA of plants, animals and micro-organisms.
While the technology is still new, the National Corn Growers Association has said gene editing could reduce the number of herbicide applications farmers have to make throughout the growing season.
Swine researchers say gene editing could make pigs resistant to the common swine virus PRRS.
