Kashmir University Scientists Pioneer India's First CRISPR-Edited Sheep

By siliconindia  |  Thursday, 29 May 2025, 16:11 IST

Kashmir University Scientists Pioneer India's First CRISPR-Edited Sheep
  • SKUAST-Kashmir scientists developed India's first gene-edited sheep using CRISPR-Cas9, targeting the myostatin gene to boost muscle growth.
  • Vice Chancellor Dr. Nazir Ahmad Ganai and the research team highlighted the achievement as a milestone for Indian livestock biotechnology and a step towards a sustainable bioeconomy.
  • The gene-edited sheep, bred under global biosafety standards, signals a future for precise, efficient livestock improvements without foreign DNA integration.

Researchers at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-Kashmir) have successfully developed India's first gene-edited sheep following the application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The feat is a milestone for animal biotechnology and positions India alongside a few select countries with cutting-edge genome editing technology.

The lamb, bred following years of research at the university's Centre for Animal Biotechnology, has had its myostatin gene edited out, a gene that controls muscle growth. By interfering with this gene, researchers were able to make the animal's muscles grow by almost 30 percent. This characteristic, occurring naturally in European breeds such as the Texel, does not occur in Indian sheep.

"This is not the birth of a lamb, but the birth of a new era in Indian livestock genetics", commented Dr. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir. "With gene editing, we can introduce exact, helpful changes without adding foreign DNA, so the process is efficient, safe, and hopefully acceptable both to regulators and consumers".

The achievement follows closely on the heels of the launch of India's first gene-edited rice crop, which was supported by the Union Agriculture Minister. Combined, these achievements mark India's increasing prowess in genomic science and biotechnology.

The scientists, headed by Dr. Riyaz A Shah, employed the CRISPR-Cas9 method in a controlled laboratory environment according to international biosafety standards. Unlike GMOs, gene-edited animals do not contain foreign DNA, which could potentially make them more acceptable in India's changing biotech policy.

Dr. Ganai appreciated the researchers and reiterated the long-term vision of the university. Biotechnology, coupled with Artificial Intelligence and other next gen technologies, is becoming an important driver towards a sustainable bioeconomy for a developed India. Institutions like SKUAST Kashmir can play a lead role in achieving livelihood, food security, and sustainability for generations to come.

It added that the university wishes to establish India's leading-edge reproductive biotechnology centre, bringing together world-class research and demonstration-oriented applications in agriculture and livestock development. SKUAST's biotech milestones date back a decade, when the same group had cloned India's first Pashmina goat, 'Noori', in 2012.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was also informed of the breakthrough. He lauded the contribution of the research team to science innovation and the potential benefits of their efforts to the development of the region.

While the gene-edited sheep was made to be used for research, researchers think that the method can ultimately be used to solve some challenges in livestock production, ranging from enhancing the meat yield and resistance to disease to making them climate-resistant breeds. SKUAST is also researching other frontier areas such as vaccine development, stem cell therapy, reproductive cloning, and transgenic research.

CRISPR technology, first discovered in human medicine, is now extensively applied and adapted to agriculture and biotechnology, such as in attempts to cure cancer, HIV, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and muscular dystrophy.

Significantly, the edited sheep does not have any foreign DNA, unlike genetically modified organisms, and is thus more acceptable under India's new biotech regulatory regime. The research met global biosafety protocols, ensuring safety and ethical scientific endeavors.

 

ON THE DECK