Indian Biological Data Centre Portals launched for Indian genome data

India has become self-sufficient in genomic data as India has successfully decoded 10,000 whole genome samples under the GenomeIndia Project. To make the genome data accessible to the researchers in India & abroad the government of India has launched a dedicated Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) Portal. The Portal was launched at the Genome India Data Conclave held in New Delhi on 9 January 2025.

The Indian Biological Data Centre is the first national repository for life science data in India.

Who inaugurated the IBDC Portal?

The  Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) Portal was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh, in New Delhi.

The minister also unveiled the central government’s ‘Framework for Exchange of Data Protocols’ which lays down a set of guidelines for the researchers in India and abroad  for accessing the genome data.

Dr. Jitendra Singh also set a new target of sequencing 10 million genomes and the GenomeIndia Project. 

Who maintains the IBDC Portal?

The ‘Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC)’ maintains all life science data generated from publicly funded research in India. 

The data center is under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

The Data Center has been set up at the DBT’s  Regional Centre of Biotechnology, Faridabad, Haryana in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre.

What is GenomeIndia?

The GenomeIndia Project was launched by the Department of Biotechnology under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology in January 2020. 20 National institutes across the countries are participating in the Project 

Aim of the project 

The initial aim of the GenomeIndia Project was to sequence 10,000 genomes of healthy Indian individuals from a diverse section of the population across the country.

New Aim- To sequence 10 million genomes of healthy Indians across the country.

Potential Benefits of the Genome Project 

There are many potential benefits of genome projects.

Advancement in Molecular Medicine 

• It will revolutionise biomedical research and clinical medicine.
• It will help scientists in detecting the root cause of disease by studying the genetic makeup of an individual
• New types of drugs and immunotherapy techniques can be developed for the treatment of disease. 
• Help in matching organ donors and recipient 

Advancement in Energy and Environment 

• It will further microbial genomics research to create new energy sources for example biofuels.
• Development of environmental monitoring techniques to detect pollutants

Bioarchaeology, Anthropology, Evolution, and Human Migration

• It will advance the study of human evolution.
• It will help in tracing the lineage of a person.

DNA Forensics (Identification)

• Help in criminal investigation and identification of criminals through DNA matching. Establish paternity and other family relationships
• Help wildlife protection by identifying endangered and protected species through its DNA and prosecuting poachers.

Agriculture, Livestock Breeding, and Bioprocessing

• It will help in developing disease-resistant, drought-resistant crop varieties.
• It will help in developing  more healthier, more productive, disease-resistant farm animals

What is a Genome?

The genome is the entire set of DNA instructions found in a cell of the organism.

In human beings, the genome consists of 23 pairs of chromosomes located in the cell’s nucleus. A genome contains all the information needed for an individual to function and develop.