Q. With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of ‘genome sequencing’, often seen in the news, be used in the immediate future?

  1. Genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in various crop plants.
  2. This technique helps in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crop plants.
  3. It can be used to decipher the host-pathogen relationships in crops

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • 1 only
  • 2 and 3 only
  • 1 and 3 only
  • 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Genome Sequencing 
  • Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome—the order of Adenine, Cytosine, Guanines, and Thymine that make up an organism’s DNA.
    • A genome is a complete set of DNA that contains all of the genes of an organism. The human genome is made up of a tiny chromosome in the cell’s mitochondria and 23 pairs of chromosomes that are found in the nucleus of the cell. A genome contains all of the information required for a person to develop and function.
  • Whole Genome Sequencing:
    • All organisms (bacteria, plants, and mammals) have their own genetic code, or genome, which is made up of nucleotide bases. Whole genome sequencing is a laboratory procedure used to determine the order of bases in the genome of an organism in a single step.
  • Significance of Genome Sequencing:
    • Genome sequencing has become an important tool in pharmacogenomics, clinical diagnosis, and translational vaccine development.
      • Whole genome sequencing provides detailed and precise data for identifying outbreaks sooner.
        • Additionally, whole genome sequencing is used to characterize bacteria as well as track outbreaks.
      • Dramatic advancements in DNA-sequencing technologies have massively reduced the time and cost required to sequence an entire human genome.
      • Genomic information has been instrumental in identifying inherited disorders and characterizing the mutations that drive cancer progression.
  • Applications of Genome Sequencing:
    • Biological research: The ability to read genetic sequences is extremely useful in biological research because the base sequence contains information for making proteins as well as regulating gene functions.
    • Forensics: Sequencing has proven to be a powerful tool in forensics. Because differences in DNA and RNA sequences can differentiate organisms down to species and individual levels, it can help to classify diseases, identify therapeutic targets, and customize treatments.
    • Diagnostics:
      • Pre-natal screening: It has also been used in prenatal screening to determine whether the foetus has any genetic disorders or anomalies. 
      • Evaluate disorders: Genome sequencing has been used to assess rare disorders, preconditions for disorders, and even cancer from a genetic viewpoint, rather than as diseases of specific organs.
    • Drug Efficacy: Genome sequencing can provide information about drug efficacy or adverse drug effects.
      • The relationship between drugs and the genome is called pharmacogenomics.
    • Vaccine development: Sequencing of viruses (e.g. ebola, coronavirus) and bacteria has led to the development of vaccines against them, once knowing their variants or strains.
      • Genomic data of pathogens could reveal hidden pathways of transmission.
    • Population Studies:Advanced analytics and AI could be applied to critical datasets generated by collecting genomic profiles across the population, allowing for a better understanding of disease causation and potential treatments.
      • This is especially relevant for rare genetic diseases, where large datasets are required to find statistically significant correlations.
    • Agriculture and food security: Genome sequencing has the power to revolutionize food security and sustainable agriculture by reducing the risks from disease outbreaks, and improving agriculture through effective plant and animal breeding, detecting multiple pathogens, etc.
Genome India
  • Genome India is a national project launched in 2020. It is funded by the Department of Biotechnology, and spearheaded bythe Centre for Brain Research (CBR).
  • In the first phase of the study, the project aims to identify genetic variations in 10,000 representative individuals from across India using whole genome sequencing.
  • Project aimed to:
    • Create an exhaustive catalogue of genetic variations in Indians.
    • Create a reference haplotype structure for Indians.
    • Create low-cost genome-wide arrays for research and diagnostics.
    • Create a biobank for DNA and plasma samples for future research.
  • Significance: Creating an Indian genome database allows researchers to learn about genetic variants unique to India’s population groups and use this information to tailor drugs and therapies.
    • Objective: To “unravel the genetic underpinnings of chronic diseases currently on the rise in India.
IndiGen Programme
  • The IndiGen programme launched in 2019 aims to undertake whole genome sequencing of thousands of individuals representing diverse ethnic groups from India.
    • The goal is to enable genetic epidemiology and develop public health technology applications using population genome data.
    • IndiGen is endorsed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
    • The outcomes of the IndiGen will be utilized towards understanding the genetic diversity on a population scale, making available genetic variant frequencies for clinical applications, and enabling genetic epidemiology of diseases.
Indian Initiative on Earth Bio-Genome Sequencing
  • The project was launched in 2020 and is part of the Earth Biogenome Project. The project will allow for the collection and preservation of endangered and economically significant species.
    • The genetic information that has been decoded will also be useful in preventing biopiracy.
    • The initial phase of IIEBS will include the whole genome sequencing of 1,000 plant and animal species, which will take five years to complete.
    • The Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) plays a key role in a nationwide project to decode the genetic information of all known species of plants and animals in the country.