Context:
The Genome India Project has successfully completed its first phase, mapping the genetic diversity of 10,000 individuals from 83 population groups, and the data is now available for use.
More on the News
- The preliminary findings of the Genome India Project (GIP), involving over 100 scientists from 20 Indian academic and research institutions, were recently published in Nature Genetics.
- The full results of the project are planned to be published next year.
Meaning of Genome:
- A genome is the complete set of DNA or genetic material in an organism.
- It contains the instructions for an organism’s growth, organ function and DNA repair.
- The full genome of an individual means getting the exact order in which four nucleotide molecules in the human DNA are arranged in an approximately three-billion-long sequence.
- These four nucleotide molecules — adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine, or simply A, T, C and G — along with a phosphate molecule and a sugar molecule, form the long double-helix DNA strands which is essentially the genetic blueprint of the individual.
- More than 99.9% of the nucleotide sequence is the same in all human beings. It is the 0.1% difference that makes a person unique
About Genome India Project
- Genome India is a national project launched in January 2020 and funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
- Its goal is to sequence 10,000 genomes from healthy people across India.
- The primary aim of the Project is to create a detailed catalogue of genetic variations within India’s population, capturing its unique diversity.
Significance of the Project
- The genome database will open up the possibility of personalised medicine, and faster and efficient diagnostics.
- The initiative positions India as a leader in genomics, enabling the development of disease-specific genetic chips (Precision medicine) for low-cost diagnostics and research activities.
- The data will serve as a foundation for cutting-edge research and will catalyze innovations in areas such as mRNA-based vaccines, protein manufacturing, and genetic disorder treatments.