Scientists of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) have developed gene-edited embryos targeting the Beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) protein, which is a part of milk and causes allergy among infants who consume bovine milk.
Dheer Singh, Director, ICAR-NDRI, while interacting with mediapersons today, said the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had supported the NDRI in this project for developing animal-produced milk without Beta-lactoglobulin protein. Around Rs 8 crore has been given by the foundation to the NDRI.
“We have developed gene-edited embryos with the help of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology. Our scientists Naresh Selokar, Manoj Kumar Singh, Ranjeet Verma, Priyanka Singh, Aseem Tara and Kartikey Patel were involved in this project. Soon, we will transplant embryos into livestock. After 9-10 months, calves will be born and later in four-five years, the animal will be free from BLG protein in milk,” he said.
The BLG gene plays a crucial role in the composition of milk, particularly influencing its interaction with other milk proteins and causing allergies in humans, he added.
He maintained that this protein was absent in human milk and around three per cent of newborns globally suffered from allergies related to bovine milk due to the presence of BLG. “By editing this protein, the NDRI aims to reduce allergenicity and enhance the nutritional profile of milk to develop more health-conscious dairy products,” said the Director. Dr Singh further claimed that NDRI is also utilizing CRISPR technology to develop climate-resilient dairy animals.
The Director said that the NDRI had prepared a 100-day plan following the guidelines of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on climate resilient livestock farming, cloning and producing elite animals. The NDRI has submitted its plan with the ICAR.
