India's First Gene-Edited Sheep Using CRISPR at SKUAST-Kashmir

A Scientific Milestone in India’s Livestock Sector

🔬 Introduction: A New Era of Biotechnology in India

India has reached a critical milestone in the field of animal biotechnology. For the first time, a gene-edited sheep has been successfully developed using CRISPR-Cas9 technology at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-Kashmir). This places India among a select group of nations capable of using cutting-edge genome editing tools in the livestock sector, with the potential to revolutionize animal husbandry, food production, and economic growth.

🧬 What is Gene Editing?

Gene editing is a biotechnology technique that allows scientists to make precise changes to the DNA (the genetic material) of a living organism—plants, animals, or humans.

📝 Example:

If a gene causes a disease or restricts growth, scientists can:

• Turn it off (gene knockout)

• Fix a mutation

• Enhance it to improve traits (like better muscle or resistance to disease)

🧠 Common Gene Editing Tools: 

🧬 What is CRISPR-Cas9 and Why is it Important?

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) paired with Cas9 (an enzyme that acts as "molecular scissors") is a gene-editing tool that allows scientists to make precise changes to the DNA of living organisms.

Unlike older genetic modification methods that introduce foreign DNA (making them transgenic), CRISPR enables editing of native genes, making the result non-transgenic. This distinction is crucial because non-transgenic organisms face fewer ethical and regulatory barriers, both domestically and internationally.

🐑 The Target: Myostatin Gene for Muscle Growth

The scientists at SKUAST targeted the myostatin gene, which naturally limits muscle development in animals. By disrupting (knocking out) this gene, the sheep developed 30% more muscle mass compared to normal sheep.

✅ This means:

• More meat production

• Greater economic returns

• Better feed-to-meat conversion ratio

This kind of innovation holds strategic importance for India's food security, particularly in the face of increasing population and limited resources.

Why is This Important for India?

India's livestock sector contributes significantly to rural livelihoods, GDP, and nutrition. However, low productivity due to disease, poor genetics, and environmental challenges remains a bottleneck.

This gene-editing breakthrough can:

1. Enhance meat yield without relying on synthetic hormones or unethical methods.

2. Promote climate-resilient breeds in the long run.

3. Position India as a global biotechnology hub with indigenous technology.

4. Open doors to precision breeding, disease resistance, and customized livestock traits.

⚖️ Ethical & Regulatory Perspectives

Unlike transgenic animals, these gene-edited sheep do not contain foreign DNA, which might make them more acceptable under Indian laws and international biosafety norms.

Still, public perception, religious sentiments, and ethical debates remain major hurdles. Regulatory frameworks like DBT’s Guidelines for Gene Editing (2022) and the GEAC under MoEFCC will play a critical role in balancing innovation with safety.

🔭 Implications for the Future

This is not just a scientific success—it's a policy and governance challenge waiting to be addressed. If scaled ethically and scientifically, gene editing can:

• Improve livestock productivity

• Aid climate adaptation

• Reduce antibiotic and chemical dependence

• Help achieve SDG Goals like Zero Hunger and Good Health

It also has potential uses in poultry, fisheries, and dairy industries—paving the way for precision agriculture in India.

🏛 Role of Public Institutions

The achievement by SKUAST reflects the importance of empowering public research universities in India. With adequate funding, policy support, and collaboration, such institutions can become biotech innovation centers, especially in less-developed regions like Jammu & Kashmir.

This also aligns with India’s National Biotechnology Development Strategy and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, promoting indigenous innovation for local challenges.

📘 MCQs for Prelims Practice

Q1. What gene was targeted in India’s first gene-edited sheep?
A) Insulin
B) Myostatin
C) Lactase
D) Somatotropin
✅ Answer: B) Myostatin

Q2. What technology was used in developing this gene-edited sheep?
A) RNA interference
B) Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
C) CRISPR-Cas9
D) Polymerase Chain Reaction
✅ Answer: C) CRISPR-Cas9

Q3. Which institution led this gene-editing project?
A) ICAR
B) IARI
C) SKUAST-Kashmir
D) IISc Bengaluru
✅ Answer: C) SKUAST-Kashmir

Q4. Which of the following is true about gene-edited sheep created at SKUAST?
A) It is a cloned animal
B) It contains foreign DNA
C) It shows 30% more muscle mass
D) It was imported from New Zealand
✅ Answer: C) It shows 30% more muscle mass

Q5. Under which government body does GEAC operate in India?
A) MoHFW
B) MoEFCC
C) DST
D) NITI Aayog
✅ Answer: B) MoEFCC

🧠 UPSC Mains Practice Questions (GS Paper III & Ethics)

1. Gene editing in livestock is a double-edged sword. Examine the scientific, ethical, and socio-economic dimensions of this technology in the Indian context.

📌 Hints: CRISPR use, rural economy, food security, religious concerns, biosafety norms

2. Publicly funded institutions like SKUAST play a critical role in India’s scientific development. Discuss the importance of decentralizing research and innovation beyond elite institutions.

📌 Hints: Role of SKUAST, regional development, scientific literacy, equity in innovation

3. What steps can the Indian government take to regulate gene-editing technologies while promoting innovation and ensuring ethical safeguards?

📌 Hints: Need for regulatory reforms, GEAC role, public consultations, international alignment

📝 Conclusion

India’s first gene-edited sheep developed by SKUAST using CRISPR technology is more than a lab experiment—it is a test case for the future of Indian science, agriculture, and ethics. If nurtured with the right vision, policies, and public awareness, such innovations can drive sustainable and inclusive growth in India's bioeconomy.