India's first gene-edited sheep born at SKUAST-Kashmir

Srinagar, May 26 -- In a groundbreaking scientific achievement, researchers at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) have successfully produced the country's first gene-edited sheep.

This groundbreaking achievement not only marks a major milestone in animal biotechnology but also propels India into the global spotlight for cutting-edge genome editing research.

Officials 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%, a trait naturally absent in Indian sheep breeds but known in select European breeds like the Texel.

The introduction of this mutation through ...