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‘Genome India’ Database
Context:
India has unveiled a groundbreaking database containing the genome sequences of 10,000 individuals from 83 different population groups. This monumental project, known as the Genome India Project, aims to capture the vast genetic diversity of the Indian population.
Key Highlights:
- Genome Sequencing: The project involved sequencing the genomes of 10,000 healthy individuals from across India. This data will be housed at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) in Faridabad, Haryana.
- Genetic Diversity: The database includes around 27 million low-frequency variants, with 7 million of these not found in other global reference databases. This makes it a valuable resource for studying genetic diversity and disease susceptibility.
- Research and Healthcare: The Genome India Project is expected to advance precision medicine and targeted clinical interventions. Researchers will have access to the data for studying diseases, developing new medications, and understanding genetic variations.
- Data Privacy: To ensure privacy, the data is numerically coded and will not be classified by caste or tribe names. Researchers must submit proposals to access the data, adhering to strict data sharing and privacy policies.
Significance and Future Prospects:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the project as a historic milestone that will strengthen India’s biotechnology economy and biotechnology-based manufacturing.
- While the current database covers only a small fraction of India’s population groups, there are plans to expand it to one million genomes in the future. This expansion would provide even deeper insights into India’s genetic diversity and its implications for health and disease.
