Latest news with #Sher-e-KashmirUniversityofAgriculturalSciencesandTechnology
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
7 days ago
- 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 in Kashmir agricultural varsity
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. 'Muscle mass in the animal is enhanced by nearly 30 per cent by disrupting the gene, a trait naturally absent in Indian sheep breeds but known in select European breeds like the Texel.' 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.
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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.
