Dr Shah & team of SKUAST,Kashmir creates India’s 1st gene edited sheep

A team of experts led by Dr Riyaz Ahmed Shah, Professor of Animal Biotechnology at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir, has achieved a significant breakthrough by creating India’s first gene-edited sheep.

Dr Riyaz was also the head of the team that created India’s first cloned Pashmina goat, Noori, in 2012. Noori passed away in 2023.

What is Gene-Editing?

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule that carries an organism's genetic information, which is necessary for its development and functioning. 

It is mainly located in the nucleus of the cells of the organism.

The genetic information is transmitted from one generation to another by the parents to their offspring.

• Gene -editing refers to the changes made in the DNA of an organism deliberately by the scientist to obtain desired change in the animal. 
• In gene editing, scientists cut the DNA of the organism at a specific spot where they want to change or modify it. 
• The scientist then removes, adds, or replaces the DNA to achieve the desired change in the organism, such as changing its colour, strengthening a muscle, or reducing a specific disease risk.
• Scientists use various techniques for gene editing. The CRISPR technique, invented in 2009, is increasingly being used worldwide.

About the Gene-edited Sheep 

Dr Shah and his team edited the gene of a female sheep using the CRISPR-Cas9 technique for gene editing.

• No foreign gene was inserted into the body of the sheep.
• The aim of the project was to get a naturally born sheep with enhanced muscle growth as compared to a normal sheep.
• The team targeted the myostatin gene, which regulates muscle growth in the sheep..
• The female sheep gave birth to a gene-edited female lamb four months ago.
• Dr Shah and his team are monitoring the sheep to see whether the desired muscle growth in the newly born gene-edited sheep is taking place or not.
• The team is expected to announce the name of the gene-edited sheep shortly.

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