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Source– This post is based on the article “The transformative benefits of population-level genome sequencing | Explained” published in “The Hindu” on 3rd December 2023.
Why in the News?
The UK has announced the completion of half a million whole-genome sequences, almost 0.7% of its population, under its ‘100K Genome Project’
What is Population-level Genome sequencing?
Population-level genome sequencing involves deciphering the complete genetic makeup of large populations. This entails sequencing an organism’s entire DNA. This offers unprecedented insights into human diversity and can be useful in healthcare sector.
What are the benefits of population-level genome sequencing?
1) Understanding disease prevalence and biomarkers which allows discovery of novel therapeutic targets.
2) Genomic data can be used in decision-making and medical care to build scalable public-health initiatives.
2) It will also contribute significantly to our knowledge of human biology, human evolution, migration patterns, and adaptation to diverse environments.
What are some other population-level genome sequencing projects?
| Genome Initiative | Origin Country |
| AllofUS program | U.S |
| 1+ Million Genomes | The European Union |
| Three Million African Genomes | By Ambroise Wonkam (Professor) of Cape Town University in South Africa |
| deCODE initiatve | Iceland |
| GenomeAsia Project | Several Asian countries and the USA |
Genomic Initiatives India
India’s IndiGen Programme: Providing insights into genetic diseases and variants, with plans for a larger GenomeIndia initiative to sequence 10,000 genomes.
UPSC Syllabus -Science & Technology
