India creates first gene-edited sheep using CRISPR

SRINAGAR, 27 May 2025: The gene-editing targeted the myostatin gene, a regulator of muscle growth. By disrupting this gene, the researchers achieved a 30% increase in muscle mass, a trait previously seen only in select European breeds like Texel. “This is a historic step for Indian agricultural biotechnology,” said Dr. Nazir Ahmed Ganai, Vice Chancellor of SKUAST. “We edited a local Merino sheep variety’s genome to enhance muscle growth. The result is a lamb that is visibly heavier than its non-edited counterpart within just three months of birth.” Dr. Ganai added that the DNA of the gene-edited lamb, currently three months old, will be sent to international research labs for further verification. Notably, the edited sheep contains no foreign DNA, distinguishing it from transgenic organisms and potentially easing its path under India’s biotech regulatory framework. The research was led by Dr. Riaz Ahmad Shah, Dean of Veterinary Sciences at SKUAST, and took over four years. Dr. ...