News: Scientists from four ICAR institutions have successfully assembled the first chromosome-level genome of the Indian yak (Bos grunniens). Yak Genomics
About Yak Genomics
- Yak Genomics involves sequencing and analyzing the genome of the domestic yak (Bos grunniens) to gain insights into its high-altitude adaptations and to enhance its productivity and overall health.
- Technology Used: Employed long-read sequencing and advanced bioinformatics tools to map genes precisely to chromosomes, offering a clearer view of yak genetics.
- This genomic is expected to greatly enhance selective breeding programmes, support conservation efforts, and deepen scientific understanding of the yak’s unique adaptations to cold, high-altitude environments.
- The availability of a complete genome will allow for the identification of genetic markers linked to desirable traits such as cold tolerance, disease resistance, and improved milk production, leading to more targeted and efficient breeding.
- The genome assembly is also anticipated to strengthen local livestock management practices by providing scientific tools to support sustainable yak farming.
About Indian Yak
- The Indian yak (Bos grunniens), often referred to as the “ship of the Himalayas”. is a robust and resilient bovine species that plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic and cultural life of high-altitude communities.
- They are primarily found above 7,000 feet in regions such as Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh.
- The Indian yak is indispensable to the livelihoods of mountain dwellers who rely on it for meat, milk, fibre, hides, manure, and transportation.
- Yaks are supremely adapted to extreme cold, low oxygen levels, and high-altitude terrain.
- Ecological Role: Yaks contribute to the sustainability of fragile alpine ecosystems through their grazing patterns and nutrient cycling.
- Indian yaks face growing threats from Shrinking grazing grounds, climate change impacts, disease outbreaks and genetic erosion due to inbreeding and lack of scientific breeding interventions.
