TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has officially announced the successful completion of the ‘10,000 Genome’ project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at creating a comprehensive reference database of whole-genome sequences from India’s diverse population.
EXPLANATION:
- This milestone is crucial for understanding genetic variations unique to India and holds the potential to customize drugs and therapies based on this genomic data.
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.
Significance of Genetic Diversity:
- India’s genetic diversity is a result of the numerous population groups and endogamous practices.
- This diversity often leads to distinct genetic variations, and the project aims to identify unique genetic variants within these groups.
- The prevalence of disease-causing mutations in specific endogamous groups highlights the need for a thorough understanding of these genetic variations.
- The revolutionary nature of the initiative and the need for continued efforts to sample thousands more genomes to identify rare mutations have been emphasized.
Project Outcomes:
- The ‘10,000 Genome’ project is expected to yield several outcomes, including
- deeper understanding of India’s population diversity,
- improved diagnostic and
- medical counseling methods,
- identification of genetic predispositions to diseases,
- development of personalized drugs,
- advancements in gene therapy, and
- insights into individual susceptibility to infectious diseases.
- Y. Narahari from IISc highlighted the establishment of a biobank containing 20,000 blood samples, from which the genomes were sequenced.
- The biobank is located at the Centre for Brain Research, IISc. Data archiving is being carried out at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC), emphasizing transparency, collaboration, and future research endeavors.
Conclusion:
- The successful completion of the ‘10,000 Genome’ project marks a significant achievement in genomics, positioning India to leverage its unique genetic diversity for advancements in medical research, drug development, and personalized healthcare. The project’s commitment to transparency and collaboration, coupled with the establishment of a robust biobank, underscores its potential to drive future research initiatives in genomics and healthcare.
