NDRI to produce buffalo clones from milk cells
KARNAL: In a unique project, scientists at National Dairy Research Institute ( NDRI) here are working to produce buffalo clones by using milk cells.
“It is a challenging task but once succeeded, it will give the Indian dairy sector a new face. Our biotechnology scientists are working closely on the project where somatic cells of milk are being experimented to clone animals,” AK Srivastava told Hindustan Times on Monday. No one in the world had ever used somatic cells of milk in the cloning project, he said.
“By producing buffalo calves through various indigenously developed cloning technologies, the NDRI has emerged as a hub of animal cloning experiments in the world,” the director said. Earlier, the NDRI scientists had used somatic cells from various body organs to produce clones.
SK Singla and MS Chauhan of the premier institute are the team leaders of the ambitious project.
“Of the total milk produced in India, buffalo milk contributes 57% but the number of elite animals is low,” Srivastava said.
India has the largest population of domestic buffalo in the world and contributes significantly to the country’s dairy gross domestic product (GDP).
“For this project, we have selected high- yielding buffaloes whose milk is of good quality. After we taste success, it will be possible to identify any milch animal based on its milk quality and they can be multiplied easily,” he said.