Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
The Ministry of Science and Technology has authorised the Genome India Project (GIP), an enormous gene-mapping project. It will have an immense impact on the healthcare, biological, pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. It will help diagnose diseases and customise treatments according to the patient’s genome. However, it does raise questions concerning medical ethics, political abuse of data, and so on.
In order to understand the Genome India Project, let’s first understand what a genome is. A genome contains the genetic information of every organism. It is encoded in the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA). It was discovered in 1953 by James Watson & Francis Crick. The genome contains the whole genetic material and dictates an organism’s life, traits and illnesses. A replica of the entire genome in humans has over 3 billion DNA base elements.
What is the Genome India Project?
The Genome India Project, which includes both Indian Institute of Science and various IITs, will encourage new efficiency in health, agribusiness, and biotech-related fields.
Its main goal is to create a pattern of Indian “genome sequence” reference, to properly comprehend the types and origins of illnesses that affect India’s diverse population.
The project seeks to create a database to gather a representative Indian genome.
Need for the Genome India Project
The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international programme which ran between 1990 to 2003 to identify and comprehend all genetic mutations. It has resulted in cutting-edge development in health and pharmaceuticals, but over 95% of the DNA specimens were of Caucasians. So it should not be considered a representative human genome.
India wasn’t part of the Human Genome Project due to a rule that didn’t allow genome samples to be sent out of the country for research. As a result, identifying the Indian genetic makeup is important for allowing the next phase of medical, agricultural, and biodiversity advances.
A major aim of GIP is to create “Indian genomic sequences” to understand the features of the heterogeneous Indian population. Genome India Project would add to the HGP’s existing database, promoting awareness and recognising Indian genetic variation.
The following demonstrates the Indian population’s variety:
Horizontal diversification – The Indian subcontinent has been home to people from many races. Beginning with the initial migration from Africa to the continuous inflow of people from different parts of the world, there has been genetic mixing of almost all races and ethnicities.
Vertical diversification – It refers to the features that are handed down within some populations due to endogamy or inter-marriage. Due to cast-based and community-based marriages in India, genetic diversity is restricted within some groups. This results in certain diseases and traits being passed on genetically within those communities.
Aim of GIP
The evolution of experience and understanding of the origin of illnesses and the specialised treatment necessary for different ethnicities might be aided by a genome sequence of the Indian race.
Identifying India’s genome might contribute to the reduction in the burden of hereditary diseases.
Potential illness prediction and preparation.
Personalised medicine development will give an edge to the pharmaceutical industry in India.
In agriculture, it will improve crop quality and cure infections. It will also reduce reliance on agrochemicals such as harmful pesticides.
This effort would also help researchers better comprehend India’s ethnic groupings & their biological roots.
Issues Concerning Genome India Project
Genetic inequality: Genetic bias in medical insurance, jobs, and other areas is probable. It might give a biological perspective on hot topics like indigenous culture, religion or ethnicity issues, and ancestry identification.
Changes in physical characteristics from genome editing: Although genetic engineering can heal various ailments, moral issues exist about the degree to which it may be used. There is a danger of premature genetic augmentation.
Privacy: Permission from study participants, use of results, and related dangers all pose confidentiality concerns. There are technical and scientific hurdles to properly comprehending the possible advantages and hazards of gene sequencing. The issue of data handling and storage must be considered in light of the danger of data misuse.
Unequal access: Restricted availability to genetic analysis and preventative treatment may exacerbate existing inequalities and cause social conflicts.
Conclusion
To truly benefit from the genomic revolution, India must collect data of its own and train people who can analyse it. The material required must arise from a huge and ongoing data set that is mapping personal genotypes as well as the past medical history of those who contributed to this project. The Genome India Project provides India with the possibility of making significant breakthroughs in biotechnology, agribusiness, and medicine. It must be driven at full force and with utmost caution. We hope you have understood what is the Genome India Project!
