Why in News?

Six months ago, a team led by Professor Riyaz Ahmad Shah at Sher-e-Kashmir University (SKUAST), Srinagar, successfully birthed India’s first gene-edited sheep—a Kashmir Merino.

The breakthrough was kept under wraps until gene sequencing confirmed its success. This milestone marks a major step in India’s genetic research, opening doors to transgenic advancements in livestock aimed at improving meat and milk yield, disease resistance, and climate resilience.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Kashmir Merino
• India’s First Gene-Edited Sheep: A Landmark Achievement

Kashmir Merino

• It is a sheep breed developed in Kashmir Valley, India, known for its fine, high-quality wool and good meat production.
• It is a dual-purpose breed, meaning it's used for both wool and meat, and it is well-suited to the harsh conditions of the Kashmir Valley.
• Development
  • The breed was evolved around 1960 at Govt. Sheep Breeding and Reserch Farm Reasi (Jammu).
  • It was developed through a cross-breeding program that involved native Kashmir sheep breeds like Poonchi, Gaddi, and Bakerwal, and exotic breeds like Australian Merino and Delaine rams.
• Productivity
  • The breed is 3 to 4 times more productive than local sheep in terms of both wool and meat production, and is comparable to exotic fine wool breeds.
• Adaptability
  • It is well-adapted to the harsh climatic conditions and diseases of the Kashmir Valley.

India’s First Gene-Edited Sheep: A Landmark Achievement

• Six months after its birth, India’s first gene-edited sheep—a Kashmir Merino—is now healthy and thriving, marking a significant breakthrough in livestock biotechnology.
  • Gene editing is a precise technique that allows scientists to modify or alter specific DNA sequences within an organism’s genome.
  • It’s used to correct genetic defects, improve traits, or enhance disease resistance using tools like CRISPR-Cas9.
• Targeting the Myostatin Gene for Muscle Growth
  • The team used CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology to target the myostatin gene, a known negative regulator of muscle growth.
    • The myostatin gene (MSTN) plays a crucial role in regulating skeletal muscle growth and development in vertebrates. 
    • It encodes a protein called myostatin, which acts as a negative regulator, limiting muscle growth.
  • Editing this gene resulted in a 30% increase in muscle mass, offering major potential in boosting meat yield in sheep.
• Wider Significance for India
  • Experts highlighted the project's national relevance, especially in meeting rising meat demands.
  • Gene-editing is essential for creating high-quality, disease-resistant livestock, and the technology is already being widely used globally.
  • 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.
  • This comes after India’s recent launch of its first gene-edited rice. It highlights the country’s rising strength in genomic science.
• Challenges and Persistence
  • The team’s journey began in 2020 and wasn’t smooth. It failed three times before succeeding in gene-editing.
  • The embryo was developed in a lab, implanted in a surrogate mother, and the sheep was born in December 2024, weighing 3.15 kg.
• From Cloning to Gene-Editing
  • The SKUAST lab has come a long way since cloning the world’s first pashmina goat, Noori, in 2012.
    • Noori lived for 11 years, marking a milestone in endangered species cloning.
    • Cloning is the process of creating an exact genetic copy of a living organism.
    • This means the cloned organism has the same DNA as the original.
  • Now, the lab has advanced to gene-editing, with plans to target the FGF5 gene next to improve fibre quality.
    • The FGF5 gene, also known as Fibroblast Growth Factor 5.
    • It plays a critical role in regulating hair growth, particularly the length of hair, in mammals.