India has achieved a significant milestone in agricultural biotechnology with the development of its first gene-edited sheep. This breakthrough aims to enhance livestock productivity and resilience, addressing challenges posed by climate change and increasing food demands.
🧬 India’s First Gene-Edited Sheep: A Leap in Livestock Biotechnology
🔍 Background and Development
The Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI) in Avikanagar, Rajasthan, has been at the forefront of sheep genetics and breeding research. Over the years, CSWRI has focused on improving indigenous sheep breeds for traits like wool quality, meat production, and disease resistance. The institute’s efforts have included identifying genes linked to prolificacy and disease resistance, such as the Booroola fecundity (FecB) gene in Kendrapada sheep .
In a recent advancement, CSWRI scientists have successfully developed a new breed of sheep, termed ‘prolific sheep’ (PS), through an integrated crossbreeding scheme initiated in 1997. This breed carries modified genes that enable the production of twins and triplets within the standard five-month gestation period of sheep. The PS breed was developed by crossbreeding India’s valuable germplasm Garole sheep with Malpura sheep, resulting in a larger-sized breed capable of multiple births, thereby enhancing mutton production in arid zones .
🌱 Objectives and Benefits
The primary goals of developing gene-edited sheep in India include:
- Enhanced Productivity: By introducing genes associated with higher fecundity, the new sheep breed can produce more offspring per gestation cycle, increasing meat and wool production.
- Disease Resistance: Identifying and incorporating genes linked to disease resistance can lead to healthier flocks, reducing mortality rates and the need for medical interventions.
- Climate Resilience: With changing climatic conditions, developing breeds that can withstand environmental stressors ensures sustainable livestock farming.
🧪 Technological Approach
The development of the PS breed involved the use of amplified gene-specific primers to identify and incorporate desired genes. This method allows for precise selection and breeding of sheep with traits such as higher fertility and better adaptability to arid conditions. The result is a breed that offers economic benefits to farmers by increasing the number of lambs produced per gestation cycle—from 80-90 in other breeds to 140-150 in the PS breed .The Times of India
