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India has released a year-long database of 10,000 human genomes, representing 83 population groups, representing 2% of the country's 4,600 population groups, which will serve as a template for future disease and drug therapy investigations.

What is the Genome India project?

It is a national initiative to map the genetic diversity of India's population. The project aims to: 

• Genetic database: The project creates a record of genetic variations in the Indian population, including common, rare, and structural variations. This database will be a resource for researchers and clinicians. 
• Develop predictive diagnostics: The project will help develop diagnostic indicators for diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. 
• Enable precision healthcare: The project will help design genome-wide arrays for research and diagnostics at an affordable cost. 
• Position India as a leader in genomics: The project will help develop genomic chips tailored to the Indian population. 
• Establish a biobank: The project will establish a biobank for DNA and plasma collected for future use in research. 

The project was launched in January 2020 by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). The Centre for Brain Research of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore is the nodal point for the project. 

About the Genome India database

The database contains genetic data from 10,000 healthy individuals from India, representing 83 population groups: 

• Genetic variations: The database includes genetic variations that are unique to the Indian population. 
• Population-specific alleles: The database highlights population-specific alleles, which are different versions of the same gene. 
• Low-frequency genetic variants: The database includes 27 million low-frequency genetic variants, including 7 million unique variants. 

The Genome India database is housed at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) in Faridabad, Haryana. It is available to researchers worldwide, subject to data-sharing and privacy policies. 

How will the data be protected and used?

The Genome India Project (GIP) protects and uses genetic data in the following ways:

• Data anonymization and encoding: The data is anonymized and encoded before it is uploaded to the central database. 
• Strict protocols: Researchers must collaborate with the Department of Biotechnology and adhere to strict protocols to access the data. 
• Storage at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC): The data is stored at the IBDC in Faridabad, which is set up by the Department of Biotechnology. 
• Biotech-PRIDE Guidelines: These guidelines emphasise India's commitment to ethical and secure data sharing. 

About Human Genome Project (HGP 1990-2003)

The Human Genome Project (HGP) was a scientific research project that aimed to sequence the human genome, identify its genes, and create tools to analyze the genetic information: 

The HGP's goals included:

• Sequencing the human genome 
• Identifying all of the human genome's genes 
• Creating databases to store the genome sequence data 
• Addressing the legal, ethical, and social issues that the project might raise 

Timeline: The HGP began in 1990 and was completed in 2003. The project was declared complete in April 2003, but the final gapless assembly was finished in January 2022. 

Funding: The HGP was funded by the US government through the National Institutes of Health, as well as other groups around the world. 

Applications

• Genome research has many potential applications, including:
  • • Molecular medicine 
    • DNA forensics 
    • Agriculture, livestock breeding, and bioprocessing 
    • Energy sources and environmental applications

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Source: 

The Hindu