Guwahati: In a significant advancement for yak genomic science, the first-ever chromosome-level genome of the Indian yak (Bos grunniens) was successfully assembled through a collaborative effort involving four Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions.Researchers report that this achievement represents a milestone with the potential to transform yak breeding programmes, conservation strategies and scientific understanding of this species’ genetic intricacies and its ecological role in the Himalayan region.The assembly was conducted under the leadership of Dr Martina Pukhrambam, Dr Vijay Paul and Dr Mihir Sarkar, director, ICAR-NRC on Yak (Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh), with research teams from ICAR-IIAB (Ranchi) and ICAR-CIRC (Meerut) led by their directors Dr Sujay Rakshit and Dr AK Mohanty, alongside Dr YG Prasad and his colleagues at ICAR-CICR (Nagpur).This project was supported by ICAR-NEH funding.According to the scientists, the outcomes of this study are anticipated to play a crucial role in identifying and preserving genetically diverse yak populations, enhancing desirable traits such as milk yield and disease resistance, elucidating the genetic mechanisms behind the yak’s unique adaptation to harsh environments, and providing insights into the evolution and adaptation of other bovine species. The genome assembly is now publicly available to the wider scientific community to encourage collaboration and accelerate further research into this unique animal.Dr Mihir Sarkar, director, ICAR-NRC on Yak, Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh, described the development as “a major breakthrough foryak research,” highlighting the importance of utilising these findings for conservation and sustainable development. Dr Martina Pukhrambam, Scientist and project lead, said the value of this genome resource in developing targeted breeding programmes and identifying genetic markers for cold tolerance, disease resistance, and increased milk production with much greater precision, thereby supporting the long-term sustainability of yak populations and contributing positively to the livelihoods of yak herders.The Indian yak is an essential component of high-altitude communities’ livelihoods, providing meat, milk, and transport, while demonstrating remarkable resilience to extreme climatic conditions.Populations occur in Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, but face ongoing difficulties including shrinking grazing areas, climatic shifts, diseases, and genetic erosion.The research team utilised cutting-edge long-read sequencing technology and bioinformatics tools to generate the chromosome-level assembly, which maps the genes to their specific locations on the chromosomes, offering a significantly clear and comprehensive picture.Dr Sujay Rakshit, director, ICAR-IIAB, Ranchi, commented that this collaboration shows a unique opportunity to utilise the budget earmarked for NEH for devoting targeted development of commodities of importance for NEH. Furthermore, he also added that comparative genomics between other bovine species with the generated data will open up allele mining for useful genes contributing to biotic and abiotic stresses and quality traits.The availability of a detailed genome is expected to benefit both scientific research and local livestock management practices. “With this genome, we can better understand how to sustain yak populations, which are critical to both biodiversity and rural economies in the Himalayas,” said Dr AK Mohanty, director, ICAR-CIRC, Meerut.
