Overview

• After a four-year program, scientists at Sher-e-Kashmir University used CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt the myostatin gene in a lamb, enhancing its muscle mass by nearly 30%.
• The edited sheep contains no foreign DNA, distinguishing it from transgenic organisms and meeting international biosafety standards.
• Vice Chancellor Nazir Ahmad Ganai briefed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on the breakthrough, advancing preparations for policy approval and farmer-level use.
• Sponsored by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the achievement follows the country’s first gene-edited rice variety and underscores India’s push towards a sustainable bioeconomy.
• The technology offers potential for developing disease-resistant herds and increasing twinning rates in livestock, positioning SKUAST-Kashmir as a leader in reproductive biotechnology.