IN DECEMBER 2020, THE FDA APPROVED THE FIRST GENETICALLY MODIFIED PIG FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. THE MODIFICATION REMOVED AN ANTIGEN RESPONSIBLE FOR CAUSING AN ALLERGIC REACTION IN SOME PEOPLE. THIS MILESTONE PAVES THE WAY FOR USING GENENTIC MODIFICATION AS THE MEANS TO IMPROVEANIMAL HEALTH AND DELIVERLESS EXPENSIVE AND SUPERIOR QUALITY PORK PRODUCTS TO THE CONSUMER. IN PREVIOUS WORK, WE SHOWED THAT PIGS LACKING CD163 ARE COMPLETELY RESISTANT TO INFECTION WITH PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME VIRUS (PRRSV), THE NUMBER-ONE INFECTIOUS DISEASE CHALLENGE FACINGTHE SWINE INDUSTRY. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO FIND THE SMALLEST REGION IN CD163, WHICH CAN BE REMOVED WITHOUT OUT AFFECTING THE NORMAL FUNCTION OF CD163 WHILE MAKING PIGS RESISTANT TO PRRSV. THE RESULTS WILL BE USED TO CONSTRUCT GENETICALLY EDITED PIGS, WHICH ARE COMPLETELY RESISTANT TO THE VIRUS, AND THUS CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELIMINATEPRRS FROM THE SWINE INDUSTRY.