About GenomeIndia Project

  • Initiated by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in 2020, GenomeIndia is a project aiming to map the genetic diversity of India.
  • The study involved sequencing the whole genomes of around 10,000 individuals from 85 unique population groups, comprising both tribal and non-tribal communities. 
  • The results were published in 'Nature Genetics', revealing 180 million genetic variants, some related to disease, some rare, and others unique to specific locations or communities in India.
  • Over 20 leading institutions collaborated on the project, including the Indian Institute of Science's Centre for Brain Research and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology. 

 

Roles of IBDC and GenomeIndia Project's Significance

  • The Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) is the national life science data storage centre where all the genome data procured from the GenomeIndia Project is retained.
  • Housed at the Regional Centre of Biotechnology in Faridabad, it operates with the support from the DBT and in partnership with the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
  • The GenomeIndia Project is pivotal for its role in addressing the underrepresentation of Indian genomes in global databases, thus boosting India's international standing as a hub for genomics research.

 

Other Key Genome Sequencing Initiatives 

  • Initiatives like the IndiGen Programme launched by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) in 2019, have successfully sequenced whole genomes of 1029 Indians, uncovering unique Indian genomic variants.
  • The programme—One Day One Genome, initiated by DBT in 2024, strives to sequence and globally release one bacterial genome each day to showcase India's microbial diversity.
  • The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH), established in 2013, is a non-profit alliance aiming to standardise the use of genomic data adhering to a human rights framework.
  • The Human Genome Project, operational between 1990 to 2003, served as a fundamental resource for researchers about the genetic blueprint of human organisms.

 

What is Genome Sequencing?

  • A genome is the entire set of genetic material present in an organism, usually composed of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). 
  • It contains crucial biological instructions needed for the development, functioning and survival of an organism.
  • Genome sequencing is the procedure of determining the complete sequence of nucleotide bases within an organism's genome.
  • Methods can vary from whole-genome, partial genome to targeted gene sequencing.
  • Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is a process used to determine the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome at a single moment. It delivers the broadest possible genetic overview.