Genome India Database
India has established a comprehensive database comprising 10,000 human genomes representing 83 population groups. This equates to about 2% of the country's approximate 4,600 population groups. The database is intended to act as a foundational reference for future studies into disease and drug therapies.
Significance and Availability
The database, known as the Genome India database, is now accessible to global researchers and is housed at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) in Faridabad, Haryana. Currently, it identifies around 27 million low-frequency genetic variants, with 7 million being unique compared to other global references.
Research and Applications
- Many countries maintain genome databases for various purposes, such as:
- Estimating disease risks
- Understanding adverse drug reactions
- Genealogy studies
- DNA profiling
- The primary focus of the Indian genome database is for researching diseases.
- The database contributes to the advancement of precision medicine, potentially improving healthcare outcomes.
Access and Privacy
Researchers interested in the data must submit proposals that adhere to data sharing and privacy regulations. The data is encoded numerically, avoiding classification by caste or tribe names.
Future Prospects and Expansion
The project, aims to bolster India's biotechnology sector. There are plans to expand the database to a million genomes, which could significantly enhance understanding of India's genetic diversity, despite costs being a limiting factor.
