What is the Genome India Project?

26-08-2023

11:46 AM

1 min read

Prelims: Government Schemes

What is the Genome India Project? Blog Image

Overview:

Recently, the secretary of the Department of Biotechnology said that under the Genome India project, close to 7,000 genomes have been sequenced and 3,000 of these are already available for public access.

About the Genome India Project:

It is a Pan India initiative focused on the Whole Genome Sequencing of representative populations across India.
Goal: The goal is to start with and executes whole genome sequencing and subsequent data analysis of 10,000 individuals representing the country’s diverse population.
This is a mission-mode, multi-institution consortium project, the first of its kind in India supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

What is Genome?

A genome is the complete set of genetic information in an organism.
In living organisms, the genome is stored in long molecules of DNA called chromosomes.
In humans, the genome consists of 23 pairs of chromosomes located in the cell’s nucleus, as well as a small chromosome in the cell’s mitochondria.
A genome contains all the information needed for an individual to develop and function.

Q1) What are Mitochondria?

Mitochondria are organelles found in most eukaryotic cells, which are responsible for producing energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through a process called cellular respiration. They are often referred to as the "powerhouses" of the cell due to their crucial role in energy production.

Source: 10,000 Indian genomes to be sequenced by year-end