India’s Gene Map Shows Disease Geography
The India’s first genetic map, prepared by a team of 150 scientists in a bid to analyse genetic variations across country, has the potential to revolutionise the drug industry and clinical researches, for it has rich data on country’s disease geography.
According to findings, a North India vegetarian is more prone to heart disorders than the southern counterparts. Kashmiris have more resistance to HIV than rest of India and Chhattisgarhis and Oriyas have a better immunity to malaria.
“It can be predicted that the North Indians where this variation is more and they are deficient in vitamin B12 and folic, then it may lead to cardio-vascular disorders,” says Shantanu Sengupta, IGIV scientist.
The interesting findings are the outcome of a vast study conducted by six Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) institutes to bring out country’s first genetic map.
“We will be able to identify who is pre-disposed to certain diseases looking at the genetic makeup. Not too long in the future it is anticipated that the drugs will become more personalised,” Mitali Mukherjee, co-ordinator of the CSIR consortium.
Also, researches found that Salbutamol, a popular drug to medicate asthma and other respiratory diseases is less effective on Rajasthani asthmatics than rest of India.
“So we know that if there are genetic differences as per the geographical areas, so accordingly we can tight rate the dosages of medication or maybe give different treatment as suitable,” says Dr Sandip Budhiraja, internal medicine, Max Hospital.
For drug companies and clinical researchers, genetic mapping could mean more complex and targeted drugs.
The government can also use the data to make policies and launch population specific programmes.
