Latest news with #Noori
Mint
7 days ago
- Science
- Mint
India's first gene-edited sheep developed by Kashmir university researchers. All you need to know
Researchers at a Kashmir-based Agricultural university have produced India's first gene-edited sheep, marking a historic milestone in the field of animal biotechnology. The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) has called it a "ground-breaking scientific achievement". The edited sheep contains no foreign DNA, distinguishing it from transgenic organisms and paving the way for regulatory approval under India's evolving biotech policy framework, news agency PTI said. The team of researchers led by Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, SKUAST-Kashmir, Riaz Ahmad Shah achieved the feat after a research of around four years. Shah's team had previously cloned India's first Pashmina goat- 'Noori'- in 2012, a milestone that garnered global acclaim. "This path-breaking development places India on the global map of advanced genome editing technologies and positions SKUAST-Kashmir at the forefront of reproductive biotechnology research," Shah told PTI, adding, it marks a historic milestone in the field of animal biotechnology. The gene editing was performed using CRISPR-Cas9 technology and adhered to international biosafety protocols. Shah said the gene-edited lamb has been modified for the 'myostatin' gene - a regulator of muscle growth. 'By disrupting this gene, muscle mass in the animal is enhanced by nearly 30 per cent, a trait naturally absent in Indian sheep breeds but known in select European breeds like the Texel,' he said. For now this has been done at research level. 'The technique has multiple applications. We can edit the genes responsible for diseases to produce disease-resistant animals. It can also help in the twinning of animals at birth,' Shah told The Indian Express. Gene editing, also known as genome editing, is a group of technologies that allow scientists to precisely change an organism's DNA. These technologies enable the addition, removal, or alteration of genetic material at specific locations within the genome. The development comes on the heels of the recent release of India's first gene-edited rice variety, endorsed by Union Ministry for Agriculture, and further cements India's growing prowess in genomic science, Shah said. "The introduction of this mutation through gene editing, and not through traditional crossbreeding, represents a technological leap akin to the revolution Artificial Intelligence is driving in the 21st century," he said. SKUAST-Kashmir vice-chancellor Nazir Ahmad Ganai described the achievement as the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in the country. "This is not just the birth of a lamb, but the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in India. With gene editing, we have the ability to bring precise, beneficial changes without introducing foreign DNA, making the process efficient, safe, and potentially acceptable to both regulators and consumers," he said. Through gene editing, the researchers targeted a gene in a sheep variety that helps in boosting its muscle weight and gives heavier, almost 30 per cent more weight than normal sheep. This is not just the birth of a lamb, but the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in India.
Mint
28-05-2025
- Science
- Mint
India's first gene-edited sheep developed in Kashmir Agricultural university. All you need to know
Researchers at a Kashmir-based Agricultural university have produced India's first gene-edited sheep, marking a historic milestone in the field of animal biotechnology. The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) has called it a "ground-breaking scientific achievement". The edited sheep contains no foreign DNA, distinguishing it from transgenic organisms and paving the way for regulatory approval under India's evolving biotech policy framework, news agency PTI said. The team of researchers led by Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, SKUAST-Kashmir, Riaz Ahmad Shah achieved the feat after a research of around four years. Shah's team had previously cloned India's first Pashmina goat- 'Noori'- in 2012, a milestone that garnered global acclaim. "This path-breaking development places India on the global map of advanced genome editing technologies and positions SKUAST-Kashmir at the forefront of reproductive biotechnology research," Shah told PTI, adding, it marks a historic milestone in the field of animal biotechnology. The gene editing was performed using CRISPR-Cas9 technology and adhered to international biosafety protocols. Shah said the gene-edited lamb has been modified for the 'myostatin' gene - a regulator of muscle growth. 'By disrupting this gene, muscle mass in the animal is enhanced by nearly 30 per cent, a trait naturally absent in Indian sheep breeds but known in select European breeds like the Texel,' he said. For now this has been done at research level. 'The technique has multiple applications. We can edit the genes responsible for diseases to produce disease-resistant animals. It can also help in the twinning of animals at birth,' Shah told The Indian Express. Gene editing, also known as genome editing, is a group of technologies that allow scientists to precisely change an organism's DNA. These technologies enable the addition, removal, or alteration of genetic material at specific locations within the genome. The development comes on the heels of the recent release of India's first gene-edited rice variety, endorsed by Union Ministry for Agriculture, and further cements India's growing prowess in genomic science, Shah said. "The introduction of this mutation through gene editing, and not through traditional crossbreeding, represents a technological leap akin to the revolution Artificial Intelligence is driving in the 21st century," he said. SKUAST-Kashmir vice-chancellor Nazir Ahmad Ganai described the achievement as the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in the country. "This is not just the birth of a lamb, but the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in India. With gene editing, we have the ability to bring precise, beneficial changes without introducing foreign DNA, making the process efficient, safe, and potentially acceptable to both regulators and consumers," he said. Through gene editing, the researchers targeted a gene in a sheep variety that helps in boosting its muscle weight and gives heavier, almost 30 per cent more weight than normal sheep. This is not just the birth of a lamb, but the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in India. "We have got the offspring from the mother, and one with the mutated gene is distinctly heavier than the non-mutated,' the vice-chancellor said adding that the DNA of the mutated lamb, which is now three months old, will be sent to foreign research labs for further verification.
News18
27-05-2025
- Science
- News18
'Leap Akin To AI Revolution': Kashmir University Researchers Produce India's First Gene-Edited Sheep
Last Updated: The edited sheep contains no foreign DNA, distinguishing it from transgenic organisms and paving the way for regulatory approval under India's evolving biotech policy framework In what is being called a 'ground-breaking scientific achievement", researchers at a Kashmir university have produced India's first gene-edited sheep. Marking a historic milestone in the field of animal biotechnology, the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) said the edited sheep contains no foreign DNA, distinguishing it from transgenic organisms and paving the way for regulatory approval under India's evolving biotech policy framework. The gene editing was performed using CRISPR-Cas9 technology and adhered to international biosafety protocols. The feat was achieved by a team of researchers led by dean faculty of veterinary sciences, SKUAST-Kashmir, Riaz Ahmad Shah after a research of around four years. The same team had previously cloned India's first Pashmina goat – 'Noori' – in 2012, a milestone that garnered global acclaim. 'This path-breaking development places India on the global map of advanced genome editing technologies and positions SKUAST-Kashmir at the forefront of reproductive biotechnology research," Shah said. Shah said the gene-edited lamb has been modified for the 'myostatin' gene — a regulator of muscle growth. 'Gene, muscle mass in the animal is enhanced by nearly 30%, a trait naturally absent in Indian sheep breeds but known in select European breeds like the Texel. The introduction of this mutation through gene editing, and not through traditional crossbreeding, represents a technological leap akin to the revolution Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving in the 21st century," he said. He said adding the gene controlling muscle development was previously undertaken in the US, China and European Union. They expect the muscle mass of the sheep to increase with 'small modification of the gene", he added. Shah further said this achievement comes on the heels of the recent release of India's first gene-edited rice variety, endorsed by the Union agriculture minister, and further cements India's growing prowess in genomic science. 'BIRTH OF NEW ERA IN LIVESTOCK GENETICS' Nazir Ahmad Ganai, SKUAST-Kashmir vice-chancellor, described the achievement as the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in the country. 'This is not just the birth of a lamb, but the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in India. With gene editing, we have the ability to bring precise, beneficial changes without introducing foreign DNA, making the process efficient, safe, and potentially acceptable to both regulators and consumers," he said. Ganai said biotechnology, in association with AI and other next gen technologies, is emerging as a key driver towards achieving a sustainable bio-economy for a developed India. Leading institutions like SKUAST-Kashmir can play a pivotal role in ensuring livelihood, food security, and sustainability for future generations, he said. 'This success is part of SKUAST-Kashmir's broader vision to build India's most advanced reproductive biotechnology facility, combining cutting-edge research with real-world applications for agriculture and animal husbandry. It also reflects the university's unwavering commitment to innovation, scientific excellence, and nation-building through biotechnology," he said. (With PTI inputs) First Published:
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Business Standard
27-05-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
India's first gene-edited sheep developed by Kashmir agriculture university
Scientists and researchers at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) have developed India's first gene-edited sheep using the CRISPR-Cas9 technology. 'Through gene editing, we have targeted a gene in a sheep variety that helps in boosting its muscle weight and would give heavier, almost 30 per cent more weight than normal sheep. We have got the offspring from the mother, and one with the mutated gene is distinctly heavier than the non-mutated,' Vice Chancellor of SKUAST Dr Nazir Ahmed Ganai told Business Standard. He added that the DNA of the mutated lamb, which is now three months old, will be sent to foreign research labs for further verification. The gene-edited lamb has been modified for the 'myostatin' gene – a regulator of muscle growth. The feat was achieved by a team of researchers led by Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, SKUAST-Kashmir, Riaz Ahmad Shah, after a research of around four years Shah's team had previously cloned India's first Pashmina goat- 'Noori'- in 2012. A few weeks ago, the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released the first gene-edited rice varieties in the world developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) scientists using the patented CRISPR-CAS9 technology. The edited sheep contains no foreign DNA, distinguishing it from transgenic organisms and paving the way for regulatory approval under India's evolving biotech policy framework. 'The gene-edited sheep of the local 'merino' breed weighed almost the same as a normal lamb at birth, but within three months, it became at least 100 grams heavier than a non-edited lamb,' Ganai said. He said that when it comes to wool count, a gene-edited sheep won't be much different from a non-gene edited one, and both will give around 2-2.5 kg of wool. 'But being heavier, the gene-edited sheep would give more meat than a non-edited one,' Ganai said.
NZ Herald
18-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Iranians accused of spying in UK were asylum seekers
Sepahvand, from St John's Wood, was charged with 'surveillance, reconnaissance and open-source research' with the intention of 'committing serious violence against a person in the UK'. Manesh, from Kensal Rise, and Noori, from Ealing, were both charged with the same offence but with the intention that violence 'would be committed by others'. Both Sepahvand and Noori spoke through a Farsi interpreter at the brief court hearing to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, said that the Government would strengthen national security powers in the wake of the charges, saying that the case raised 'very serious wider issues'. Strengthened powers Cooper said: 'The police have confirmed that the foreign state to which these charges relate is Iran, and Iran must be held to account for its actions. 'We must also strengthen our powers to protect our national security as we will not tolerate growing state threats on our soil. 'As part of that process, we will publish next week the results of Jonathan Hall, KC's review into the application of our counter-terrorism framework to modern-day state threats.' She thanked the police and security services for their dedication to 'protecting our national security'. She added: 'The charges that have been laid against these three individuals must now take their course through the criminal justice system and nothing must be done to prejudice the outcome of those proceedings.' District Judge Annabel Pilling was told that police attended the home addresses of the three on May 3. The CPS prosecutor, who did not give his name on security grounds, told the court that Sepahvand first arrived in the UK in 2016 concealed in a lorry. He sought asylum on the grounds that he feared for his safety if he returned to Iran. Manesh arrived in the UK by boat in December 2019 and applied for refugee status on religious grounds. Noori had his first recorded contact with the authorities in the UK in September 2022, at which point he applied for asylum. All three were remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey next month. Both Sepahvand and Noori's defence counsels indicated their client would be denying the charges. Judge Pilling told the defendants: 'There will be a trial in due course before a judge and jury if you plead not guilty. The next stage will be a preliminary hearing before the specialist judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb on June 6.' Dominic Murphy, the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism commander, described the charges against the three as 'extremely serious'. He added: 'Since the men were arrested two weeks ago, detectives have been working around the clock and we have worked closely with colleagues in the Crown Prosecution Service to reach this point. 'Now that these men have been charged I would urge people not to speculate about this case, so that the criminal justice process can run its course.' On May 9, a fourth man, aged 31, was also arrested as part of the investigation but he was released without charge on Thursday. Separate investigation Scotland Yard said today that four other Iranians arrested in a separate counter-terrorism policing investigation had been released from custody. The men had been arrested on May 3 at addresses in London, Swindon and Greater Manchester on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act. A fifth man, also an Iranian national, was previously released on bail to a later date in May. Officers continue to carry out searches at a number of addresses in the Greater Manchester, London, Swindon and High Wycombe areas. Murphy said: 'We made these arrests due to concerns about a suspected plot to target a specific premises. Since those arrests, detectives have been working to assess all the evidence we've gathered and to question the men. 'They are now being released from custody but our investigation remains active and is ongoing. 'We are working very closely with the premises we identified as the suspected target of the alleged plot, and we continue to provide them with support. This has been, and continues to be, a highly complex investigation, and we will not hesitate to take further action if we believe there is any imminent threat to the public.' Murphy added: 'I would like to thank the public for their support and understanding – particularly in the areas and communities across the UK who have felt the direct impact of our activity. I'd like to ask people to remain vigilant and contact us if anything doesn't look or feel right. Information from the public is crucial to our work.'
