TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: The Genome India Project, spearheaded by the Department of Biotechnology, has successfully completed the monumental task of sequencing 10,000 Indian genomes.
EXPLANATION:
- This ambitious initiative aims to unravel the intricate genetic makeup of a diverse population, offering insights into health, disease, and the unique genetic landscape of the Indian subcontinent.
Creating a Reference Indian Genome
- Significance of Genome Sequencing: The project’s completion implies the comprehensive analysis of DNA blueprints from 10,000 individuals, establishing a ‘reference’ Indian human genome. This can be likened to creating a detailed map of India, with specificity comparable to political units, geography, and topography.
- Representativity Challenges: Acknowledging that 10,000 individuals may not fully represent a nation of over a billion, the dataset serves as an essential template, providing a foundation for further exploration and insights.
Applications in Disease Combatting
- Historical Context: Highlighting India’s earlier foray into genetic research, the article references the discovery in 2009 that identified a genetic variant linked to a high risk of heart failure. The prevalence of such variants is underscored by India’s intricate population structure and caste-based endogamy.
- Complex Genetic Landscape: The article emphasizes the persistence of rare, harmful genetic variants due to historical factors, emphasizing that the genome sequencing efforts can shed light on diseases influenced by multiple factors.
Challenges and the Path Forward for Genome India
- Population Diversity and Complexity: Acknowledging India’s close to 4,500 population groups and the historical impact of endogamy, the article underscores the complexity of India’s genetic landscape.
- Democratizing Genetic Insights: Proposing a democratic approach, the article calls for the findings not to be confined to academia. Instead, it advocates for collaborations with scientists, students, technology companies, ethicists, and social scientists to democratize and advance India’s understanding of its genetic diversity.
Genome India Project:
- It is a scientific initiative inspired by the Human Genome Project (HGP), an international effort that successfully decoded the entire human genome between 1990 and 2003.
- The project was started in 2020, aiming to better understand the genetic variations and disease-causing mutations specific to the Indian population, which is one of the most genetically diverse in the world.
- By sequencing and analyzing these genomes, researchers hope to gain insights into the underlying genetic causes of diseases and develop more effective personalized therapies.
- The project involves the collaboration of 20 institutions across India and is being led by the Centre for Brain Research at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.
- The project involved around 20 institutions across India, with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, serving as lead institutions.
- The primary goal was to establish a representative genomic database that reflects the genetic diversity of India’s 1.3 billion population, which comprises over 4,600 distinct population groups, many of which are endogamous.