Gujarat Launches India's First Tribal Genome Sequencing Project State of Gujarat Genome Sequencing Project for Tribals

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 Gujarat Launches India's First Tribal
Genome Sequencing Project
State of Gujarat Genome Sequencing Project for Tribals

The state of Gujarat has initiated India's first Tribal Genome Sequencing Project. This landmark project aims to significantly improve tribal healthcare within the state.

Key Details

  • Project: India's first Tribal Genome Sequencing Project in Gujarat.
  • Objective: To improve tribal healthcare.
  • Scope:The project will sequence the genomes of 2,000 individuals from tribal communities.

These individuals will be selected from across 17 districts in Gujarat.

Key Focus Areas

  • Early detection of genetic disorders.
  • Targeted treatment for conditions such as sickle cell anaemia, thalassaemia, and certain hereditary cancers.

Utilisation of Genetic Data:

  • The collected genetic data will be used to identify markers related to natural immunity.
  • It will also support the development of personalised healthcare solutions.

Genomic Research & Data:

  1. Studying their genomes provides insights into population histories, migration patterns, and the evolution of genetic variations.
  2. The project aims to identify genetic health risks and enable precision healthcare for tribal populations, focusing on early detection and targeted treatment of inherited diseases like sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia, and hereditary cancers.

Genome Sequencing

  • Genome sequencing is the process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome at a single time.
  • It involves identifying the precise order of all four nucleotide bases Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), and Guanine (G) across the entire DNA molecule.
  • It can be done as Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) (entire DNA) or Exome Sequencing (protein-coding regions only).
  • Techniques include Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), Sanger Sequencing, and Third-Generation Sequencing (like Nanopore, PacBio)

Applications in Medicine:

Identifying genetic disorders and mutations (e.g., cystic fibrosis, cancer).

Predicting disease susceptibility by studying inherited genetic variations.

Pharmacogenomics: Understanding how individuals respond differently to drugs based on their genetic profile.

Prenatal screening and personalized health care strategies.

Applications in Research:

  • Studying evolutionary biology, population genetics, and biodiversity.
  • Decoding genomes of microorganisms to track outbreaks or understand pathogen resistance.

Agriculture and Environment:

  • Improving crop traits (e.g., drought resistance, pest resistance).
  • Enhancing livestock breeding and productivity.
  • Identifying microbes for bioremediation or soil health.

Recent Milestones:

  • Human Genome Project (2003): First full draft of the human genome.
  • Genome India Project (ongoing):Aims to sequence 10,000 Indian genomes for precision healthcare.

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