(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) INDIA’S FIRST TRIBAL GENOME PROJECT

(AUGUST-2025)

Recently, Gujarat launched India’s first tribal genome project to tackle inherited diseases.

The Tribal Genome Sequencing Project is an initiative by the government to sequence the genomes of 2,000 people belonging to tribal communities across 17 districts in the state.
Project title: “Creation of Reference Genome Database for Tribal Population in Gujarat”
Implementation: Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC).
Key Objective: Early identification and focused treatment of genetic disorders, including sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia, and some hereditary cancers, will be the initiative’s main goals.

Tribal health: By bridging the gap between science and tradition, this project will serve as a milestone towards a healthier and more prosperous future for our tribal communities. It will help to bring long-term improvements in tribal health.
Health Infrastructure: The gathered genetic information will also be utilised to find indicators of natural immunity and aid in the creation of individualised treatment plans. According to officials, the project will include cutting-edge infrastructure for genetic data interpretation, sequencing, and sample collection.

Drug discovery: Aids in the discovery of novel therapeutic targets, the understanding of the genetic basis of diseases, and the identification of mutations that cause disease.
Customized medication: It makes personalized medicine possible by forecasting each person’s reaction to medications, enabling the best possible drug selection and minimising side effects.
Prenatal screening: It has also been utilised to check for any genetic abnormalities or disorders in the foetus.
Evaluate disorders: From a genetic perspective, rather than as diseases of particular organs, genome sequencing has been used to evaluate rare disorders, preconditions for disorders, and even cancer.