Context:
UK Biobank recently opened world’s biggest set of human genome sequences to scientists.
- It has shared complete genome sequences from its 500,000 British volunteers which could be accessed by scientist for research.
Genome and Genome sequencing
What is a genome?
- It is the entire set of DNA instructions found in a cell.
- In humans, it comprises 23 pairs of chromosomes (thread-like structures of DNA) in cells’ nucleus and a small chromosome in cells’ mitochondria.
What is DNA?
- It is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism.
- 4 nucleotide bases present in DNA – Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G) and Thymine (T)
Genome sequencing refers to figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides in a genome (i.e., the order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts).
Initiatives taken for Genome Sequencing
IndiGen programme:
- Aim – To undertake whole genome sequencing of 1000 Indian individuals representing diverse ethnic groups from India.
- Funded by – Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Genome India Project:
- Aim – To collect 10000 genetic samples from citizens across India to build a reference genome.
- Launched by – Department of Biotechnology
Human Genome Project:
- International research effort to determine the DNA sequence of the entire human genome.
- It began in 1990 and completed in 2003.
- Coordinated by – National Institutes of Health, USA and Department of Energy, USA.
Source: In shorts
Previous Year Question
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:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
