Union Minister Harsh Vardhan launches next-generation DNA sequencing facility in Hyderabad. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) facilityis the fourth such facility in the country, which can sequence 30 human genomes a day. It costs around ₹1 lakh to sequence one genome using this facility.
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The Union Minister said that this state-of-the-art genome sequencing facility would be of help, especially to patients suffering from rare genetic disorders.
CCMB scientists said that earlier it used to take two to three weeks to sequence one genome, and it was a costly process. “We had a smaller machine which was not as efficient. Besides, it became obsolete as the company which manufactured the machine, has been closed down. This (NGS) is top most model,” said Dr K Thangaraj, chief scientist at CCMB.
The facility includes cutting edge technology for high throughput (number of samples tested) genome sequencing, which also facilitates diagnostic related sequencing of transcriptome and exome (parts of genome that are expressed in cells) of clinical samples. Much of the existing body of knowledge for therapies for these diseases comes from studies done with Caucasian populations. This facility would help in generating large-scale genomic data from Indian populations, which was critical for genetic diagnosis and therapy.
The CCMB can now sequence up to 30 human genomes or 384 diagnostic samples in a day. For a country like India, with its heavy genetic disease burden, prenatal genetic screening and counselling are essential in preventing genetic disorders, said a press release.
This opens up multiple avenues in investigating fundamental biology of individual cells in tissues as well as fighting disease like cancer through understanding the heterogeneity in cell populations. By using the facility, scientists hope to find genetic cause of rare diseases and develop kits which can be used to find population at the risk of genetic or other rare diseases. These services would be available to hospitals, industry, and academicians by paying charges.
About next-generation DNA sequencing facility :
NGS would include technology for high genome sequencing and also diagnostic sequencing of clinical samples.It is 4th such facility in the country. It is a state-of-the-art genome sequencing facility that can sequence 18,000 samples inIt is acquired at a cost of Rs.8 crore. It can sequence 30 human genomes a day ,It would costs around ₹1 lakh to sequence one genome using this facility.
Need of next-generation DNA sequencing facility:
There is a need to develop Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) and ensure that research is transferred to industry, and public at large.
Significance next-generation DNA sequencing facility :
NSG facility would help in generating large-scale genomic data from Indian populations, which was critical for genetic diagnosis and therapy
Application next-generation DNA sequencing facility :
NGS would help prenatal genetic screening and counseling, thus generating large scale genomic data critical for diagnosis and therapy. It would especially help patients suffering from rare genetic disorders It would help in finding drugs for rare genetic diseases, which drug industry does not manufacture because of high costs involved. By using NSG facility, scientists hope to find the tic cause of rare diseases.
