(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) GENOME INDIA PROJECT


(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) GENOME INDIA PROJECT

(FEBRUARY-2025)


GENOME INDIA PROJECT

  • The Department of Biotechnology recently announced its new platform and framework for sharing its 10,000 human genome dataset.

Key Details

  • The sequences of healthy individuals from 99 ethnic populations of the country has helped create a baseline map of India’s genetic diversity. 

  • The researchers in the second phase plan to sequence genomes of those with specific diseases.

About Genome India Project

  • The Genome India project was first approved in 2020 with the aim of capturing this diversity at the genomic level.

  • Researchers from 20 different scientific institutions have come together to sequence the first 10,000 genomes under the project. 

  • The department of biotechnology aims to expand the programme further and sequence up to 1 million genomes.

How will data be shared

  • The data will be available to Indian researchers through managed access. This is the first time that we have created a resource such as this and we have to be very careful how we share this highly sensitive data. 

  • Access will be granted only to research institutions that partner with us for the study. 

Advantage of Genome India Project

  • Inform Policy Decisions: Genetic data will help policymakers design and implement health strategies suited to India’s diverse population.

  • Identify factors for diseases: The project will help identify genetic basis or genetic risk factors for various diseases. These can then be used as targets for developing therapies and diagnostic tests.

  • Find new variants: An Indian dataset helps identify new variants. The researchers have identified 135 million genetic variations in the 10,000 genomes so far, 7 million of which are not found in the global databases.

Identify frequency of Genetic Variations: Population level sequencing can also tell scientists and clinicians the frequency at which certain genetic variations that are known to cause disease appear and hence how common a disease might be.

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Courtesy: Science Reporter