Srinagar, 26 May: In a grassroots scientific achievement, the Department of Agricultural Sciences and Kashmir (Scout-Kashmir) of the University of Sher-e-Kashmir has successfully produced India’s first gene-composed sheep, which mark a historic milestone in the field of animal biotechnology. This path-breaking development places India on a global map of advanced genome editing technologies and is in the position of scout-Kashmir at the forefront of breeding biotechnology research.
The gene-edited lamb has been revised to myostatin genes, a regulator of muscle development. By interrupting this gene, the mass of muscles in the animal is increased by about 30%, a characteristic absent in Indian sheep breeds but is known in selected European breeds like Texel. The introduction of this mutation through gene editing – and not through traditional crossbreeding – represents a technical jump for revolution. Artificial intelligence is driving in the 21st century.
This achievement comes on the heels of India’s first gene-admitted rice variety, supported by the Union Agriculture Minister, and leads India’s growing skills in genomic science.
“This is not only the birth of a lamb, but the birth of a new era in livestock genetics in India,” Vice Chancellor of Scoot-Kashmir. Nazir Ahmed said. “With gene editing, we have the ability to bring accurate, beneficial changes without introducing foreign DNA – to make the process efficient, safe and potentially for both regulators and consumers.” The Vice Chancellor, the researchers Dr. Riyaz A Shah and his team appreciated and highlighted the university’s commitment to excellence in research and innovation at the national and global level. He reiterated, “In collaboration with biotechnology, artificial intelligence and other next gene technologies, leading as a major driver to achieve a permanent bio -economic for a developed India. Leading institutions like Skier Kashmir can play a significant role in ensuring stability for future generations.”
This success is part of the comprehensive vision of Scout-Kashmir to build India’s most advanced breeding biotechnology facility, combining state-of-the-art research with real-world applications for agriculture and animal husbandry. It also shows innovation, scientific excellence and unwavering commitment of the university for nation-building through biotechnology. This achievement pro. Riyaz Shah’s leading biotechnology creates a leading heritage, as his team first cloned the first Pashmina goat clone, “Noori” of India – a historic milestone that received global praise.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmed Ganai informed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ji about the research of this success, who appreciated the team’s efforts and his contribution to further scientific boundaries in the field.
CRISPR technology has emerged as a versatile tool with extensive applications in medical, agriculture and biotechnology, especially in addressing health issues such as cancer, HIV, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis and muscle dystrophy. Although the current study was purely for research purposes, the scuast is moving forward in implementing the latest biotechnology to deal with challenges in the Kashmir Livestock sector, including reproductive cloning, gene editing, vaccine development, stem cell applications and transgenic research.
Jean editing was performed using CRISPR-CAS9 technology and was followed by the International Bio Safety Protocol. Importantly, edited sheep have no foreign DNA, which separates it from transgenic organisms and paves the way for regulatory approval under India’s developed biotech policy framework.
As the world sees, Scout-Kashmir’s leading function acts as a beacon of what Indian science can achieve. This first gene-edited sheep is not just a scientific milestone-it is a symbol of promises, progress and possibilities for the future of sustainable livestock farming in India.