In the news

• The completion of the ‘10,000 genome’ mapping under the Genome India Project marks a significant milestone in India’s quest to establish a comprehensive reference database of whole-genome sequences, representing the diverse genetic makeup of its population.

About the Genome India Project

What is Genome Sequencing?

• Genome sequencing involves deciphering the complete set of genetic instructions contained within an organism’s DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid).
• It entails determining the sequence of the four nucleotide bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T).
• The human genome comprises over 3 billion of these genetic letters, but current DNA sequencing methods can only handle short stretches at a time.
• While human genomes consist of DNA, viruses can have genomes composed of either DNA or RNA (Ribonucleic acid).
• Notably, viruses like the coronavirus possess RNA genomes.
• Each organism possesses a unique genome sequence, making genome sequencing a vital technique for understanding genetic information encoded in DNA or RNA.

Outcomes of the Genome India Project

• Population Complexity: India’s vast population, comprising over 4,600 distinct groups, exhibits significant genetic diversity, owing to factors such as endogamy.
• Unique Variations: Various disease-causing mutations are amplified within specific population groups, highlighting the importance of understanding India’s genetic landscape.

Future Implications

• Insight into Population Diversity: The project aims to provide deeper insights into India’s genetic diversity, facilitating improved diagnostic methods and medical counselling.
• Personalized Medicine: Identifying genetic predispositions to diseases and developing personalized drugs are envisioned outcomes, enhancing healthcare interventions.
• Biobank Establishment: A biobank housing 20,000 blood samples, located at the Centre for Brain Research, IISc, supports genome sequencing efforts.
• Data Archiving: Data archiving at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC), set up by the DBT at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, underscores the project’s commitment to transparency and collaboration.

Try this PYQ from CSP 2017:

Q. With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of ‘genome sequencing’, often seen in the news, be used in the immediate future?
1. Genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in various crop plants.
2. This technique helps in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crop plants.
3. It can be used to decipher the host-pathogen relationships in crops.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now