• Start date – November 9, 2024
  • Location – National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi
  • The initiative is being coordinated by Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) and National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (BRIC-NIBMG).
  • The Government of India has launched the “One Day, One Genome” initiative, which aims to publicly release one annotated microbial genome every day.
  • The initiative is designed to enhance access of scientists and researchers to microbial genomics and encourage scientific innovation.

Key features of the initiative:

  • Unravelling India’s bacterial diversity – The initiative will help in identifying various species of bacteria found in India.
  • Contribution to environment, agriculture, and health sector – The initiative will help in better understanding the role of microorganisms, which can lead to improved agricultural productivity, environmental protection, and human health.
  • Unveiling hidden microbial capabilities – New capabilities of microorganisms will be discovered through genome sequencing, making their use possible in various fields.
  • Promoting scientific innovation – By making genomic data of microorganisms publicly available, researchers will be inspired to make new discoveries.

Significance of “One Day, One Genome” initiative

  • Contribution to the health sector:
  • This initiative can help in the study of diseases related to microorganisms and the development of new medicines.
  • It will be helpful in monitoring and controlling infectious diseases.
  • Agriculture and food security:
  • Organic farming can be promoted by studying soil microorganisms.
  • Bacteria that increase the disease resistance of crops can be identified.
  • Environment and biotechnology:
  • Bacteria that help in reducing pollution and in organic waste disposal can be discovered.
  • It will be possible to discover microorganisms that produce enzymes useful for industrial processes.

Published by Pragyanxetu

One Earth. One Future