Genome India Project

• 26 Apr 2023

Recently, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) said that the exercise to sequence 10,000 Indian human genomes and create a database under the Centre-backed Genome India Project is about two-thirds complete.

• The Genome India Project aims to identify genetic variants in the Indian population to customize therapies.
• 7,000 Indian genomes have already been sequenced, with 3,000 available for public access by researchers.
• Genome sequencing is the process of decoding the genetic fingerprint of an individual by deciphering the order of base pairs that make up the human genome.
• It has various applications, including rare disorder evaluation, preconditions for disorders, cancer diagnosis, and prenatal screening.
• Genomic sequencing played a vital role in tracking the spread of COVID-19 and developing vaccines during the pandemic.
• The Genome India Project is expected to have significant implications for personalized medicine, disease diagnosis, and population health.
• Sequencing is becoming cheaper, and experts predict that every individual's genome may be sequenced as part of routine healthcare in the future.