Context
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) introduces the ‘One Day One Genome’ initiative
About One Day One Genome Initiative:
- Objective: To highlight unique bacterial species in India and their critical roles in environment, agriculture, and human health.
- Coordination: The initiative is led by the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) and the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG) under the Department of Biotechnology.
- Goal: To release fully annotated bacteriological genomes isolated in India, making them freely accessible to the public.
- Complementary Information: The genome releases will include graphical summaries, infographics, and genome assembly/annotation details, providing insights into their scientific and industrial applications.
- Impact: The initiative aims to make microbial genomics data more accessible to the public and scientific researchers.
Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC)
- The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has consolidated its 14 Autonomous Institutions under a unified body, the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), registered in November 2023.
- Aim: to enhance centralized governance, strengthening India’s science and technology (S&T) innovation ecosystem.
- BRIC focuses on driving impactful biotech research, fostering workforce development through immersion-based Ph.D. programs, supporting frontier technologies, and nurturing a vibrant start-up ecosystem to address global challenges with transformative S&T solutions.
Role of Microorganisms:
- Ecosystem Functions:
- Play an essential role in biogeochemical cycles, soil formation, mineral purification, and degradation of organic waste and toxic pollutants.
- Contribute to methane production and help maintain homeostasis on Earth.
- Agriculture:
- Aid in nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation, and maintaining soil fertility.
- Control pests and weeds, and enhance stress responses in plants.
- Symbiosis with Plants:
- Microorganisms are symbiotically associated with plants, helping in nutrient and water uptake.
- Human Body:
- There are more microbial cells in the human body than human cells.
- Microorganisms are vital for digestion, immunity, and even mental health.
- Health Impact:
- Pathogenic microorganisms cause infectious diseases.
- Non-pathogenic microorganisms are essential in defending against infectious diseases.
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. Adenoviruses have single-stranded DNA genomes whereas retroviruses have double-stranded DNA genomes.
2. Common cold is sometime caused by an adenovirus whereas AIDS is caused by a retrovirus.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b)
