India: Cloned goats for rare wool

This technique is expected to be turned into a real money machine instead of going around in the lab.

Human goat - savior for the famous wool line around the world

Since ancient times, Indian Cashmere wool has been famous as a rare and luxurious wool. Over thousands of years, now is wearing a shirt made from these famous woolen yarns is still the pride of the most dressed connoisseurs. On the high mountains year-round Kashmir state cloudy, Kashmir goat is the "biological plant" that produces these prestigious wools, from its silky thick coat.

Wool made from goat fur is a staple in Kashmir economy. Not only do many jobs be created, but every year, the revenue from woolen yarns also brings about 80 million USD to this poor state. A locally sold sweater has cost about $ 200. When it appeared in the major cities of India itself, it was raised several times by the team. The "foreign" wool yarns are always priced in thousand dollars / kg.

However, in recent years, Kashmir goats are declining in both substance and quantity. Climate change, environmental pollution, reduced grassland area and hybridization with some other exotic goat breeds have caused Kashmir wool production to decline rapidly. The proportion of "premium" wool also fell sharply. This is a critical blow to the industry that has a thousand-year-old tradition, and is daily threatening the lives of tens of millions of workers in this area.

Scientists are proud of the Noori clone.

In this context, scientists at the Sheri Kashmir University of Science and Technology (SKAUST) decided not to wait any longer. Animal cloning techniques have been around for nearly two decades now, they have chosen to be a weapon to prevent the extinction momentum of this world-famous wool line. Although not yet perfect, it seems that cloning is the most possible solution.

The feasibility of the technical and economic projects is very high. If the project is successful, this will be the first time, animal cloning techniques have been commercialized. Since its inception, the economic potential of this technology has been predicted, and perhaps Indians will be the first to test this.

Expect the goat clone into "money making machine"

Under the leadership of the leading biotechnology scientist, Dr. Riaz Ahmad Shah, the research team at SKAUST's Animal Biotechnology Center has launched an individual cloned Kashmir goat First. It is named Noori , in the local language meaning "light" , because the authors of the work hope that this success will open a new horizon, new light for Kashmir wool industry. Weighing 1.3kg when born, after only one month of caring, Noori has increased to 5kg.

Biological evaluation indicators show that it carries the full characteristics of a purebred Kashmir goat. This promises that this Indian state will again have a large herd of goats, with great fur to continue producing the famous Cashmere wool yarns.

The project received great attention from the international community, because this is the first time, cloning techniques have been commercialized. In addition to being fully funded by the World Bank, scientists are also receiving orders from the Indian National Dairy Research Institute.

Dr. Majeed Fazili, a member of the research team, said that about two years later, Noori will start the first litter. Having to wait for a quality check, the output of these woolen wool yarns can confirm the project's results, but he believes it will surely succeed.

Currently, this group of scientists is divided into two active branches: One branch continues to create more cloned, one-branch Kashmir goats, which are new to the goat species. For a long time, the habitat of Kashmir is high mountains over 14,000 feet (more than 4,000 meters) above sea level, with temperatures down to -40 degrees. If you can intervene a little in the genome so that they adapt to a warmer environment, the effect will be immense.

Grazing will be carried out in areas with lower elevations and less severe climates. That will allow for an increase in the number of goats to achieve higher yields. However, there are also concerns that the harsh living environment has helped to form such excellent quality wool hairs. If this environment changes, it is difficult to get the same cashmere wool line as before.

Facing these concerns, scientists said they would be cautious during the deployment process. Any specimen that does not meet the requirements will be destroyed, and the authors will not run at all. Cashmere wool brand has been known all over the world for centuries, and their primary mission is to protect and preserve the brand.

In 1996, the world's first cloned animal was Dolly the sheep, and it lived for 7 years. The project leader, Dr. Riaz Ahmad Shah, said he hoped his cloned Kashmir goat would achieve at least the same life. That's enough for them to become "money-making machines".

The doctor also revealed that the cost of creating a Noori individual is not too large, and if duplicating large numbers, this cost will decrease. This is a project that will surely bring high economic efficiency, and the famous Cashmere wool line will be preserved.