The Genome India Project maps the genetic diversity of 10,000 Indians to improve personalized healthcare and understand disease risks unique to India. It aids in targeted treatments, traces ancestral movements, and fills gaps left by global genome studies. This project marks a major step toward inclusive, India-specific genetic research.
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The first part of India’s ambitious programme to map the genetic diversity of its people is now complete, and its data are ready to be used.
It is a scientific effort to map the genetic diversity of the Indian population. Scientists have collected and studied the complete gene sequences of 10,000 people from different ethnic groups across India.
Scientists take blood samples from volunteers and extract DNA from white blood cells. DNA is made up of four molecules called adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). These molecules form a long chain, almost like letters in a book, and every person’s DNA has about three billion of these “letters.”
While 99.9% of everyone’s DNA is the same, the remaining 0.1% makes each person unique. Scientists focus on these tiny differences because they hold the key to understanding health risks and traits
India has one of the most genetically diverse populations in the world. By mapping this diversity, scientists can identify genetic patterns linked to diseases that are more common in Indians, like diabetes. This helps doctors create targeted treatments and drugs that work specifically for Indian patients.
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Personalized medicine means treating each patient based on their unique genetic makeup. Through GIP, scientists collect the "germline sequence" — the original genetic code a person is born with. They study these sequences to find out which parts of the DNA make someone more likely to get certain diseases. |
By studying DNA, scientists can trace how ancient populations moved across regions, mixed with others, and adapted to new climates. For example, they can figure out when certain tribes settled in remote areas or how farming communities spread across India. Fossils and isolated tribes provide extra clues since their DNA hasn’t changed much over centuries.
Earlier global projects, like the Human Genome Project, didn’t include enough samples from India. As a result, they couldn’t give detailed information about Indian genetics. GIP fills this gap by focusing specifically on India’s diversity. Over time, the project will add even more samples to build a comprehensive gene bank for future research.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. How does the Genome India Project aim to contribute to personalized medicine in India? 150 words |
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