Why ‘One Day One Genome' mission is important for demystifying genomic data, making it accessible to public
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has over the past five months released detailed graphical summaries, infographics, and other details of over 100 bacterial genomes as part of the 'One Day One Genome' initiative launched to harness the microbial potential of India.
The initiative was announced in New Delhi on November 9, 2024, on the first foundation day of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), an autonomous body under the (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology. It aims to make genomic data more accessible to researchers, students and the general public.
Speaking To The Indian Express, DBT Secretary Rajesh Gokhale said, 'Let us celebrate our invisible biodiversity and build through genomic science a healthier, self-reliant future — one genome at a time.'
'We want to demystify complex microbial genomic data, making it more understandable and accessible to a wider audience,' another DBT official said, adding that the aim is also to create interest and excitement among young minds, especially school-going children, about the enormous potential of microbial genomics.
BRIC-National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), a West Bengal-based institute under the DBT, is coordinating the 'One Day One Genome' mission and sharing a collection of bacterial genomes from 13 BRIC institutions, along with two autonomous institutions: International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) New Delhi and Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) Faridabad.
The BRIC-NIBMG team analyses these genomes and is showcasing a fully annotated bacterial genome, complete with a detailed graphical summary, infographics, and genome assembly/annotation details, on its website daily, making it freely available to researchers, student community and the general public. This release is complemented by social media posts designed to capture the imagination of the general public and students, educating them about the potential of bacterial genomic resources.
For several years, Indian scientists have gathered genomic data of various Indian strains of microorganisms. The mission now aims to highlight the unique bacterial species found in India and emphasise their critical roles in the environment, agriculture, and human health.
For instance, it could be about how the unique environment at Lonar Lake in Maharashtra's Buldhana district supports a diverse microbial community. Formed by a meteorite impact, Lonar Lake is one of the rare soda lakes. Its extreme conditions—high salinity, elevated pH, and limited nutrients—make survival difficult for most life forms.
According to scientists at the National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, an autonomous institute under the DBT, the genome of microbe Methylophaga lonarensis found here has shown a high degree of specialisation that includes the production of ectoine, a valuable molecule with promising applications in skincare.
Similarly, at the Institute of Life Sciences, Odisha, another autonomous institution of the DBT, scientists isolated and characterised a novel probiotic bacterial strain, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ILSF15 , from the gut samples of tribes of Odisha. Genomic studies discovered genes linked to probiotic features, survival traits, and, importantly, how it can resist acid/bile and lower cholesterol in vitro, officials said.
Whether it is exploring unique bacteria from places like Lonar Lake, herbs from the Northeast or even sources like snake droppings and cow udders, studying genomes of these diverse organisms can support important sustainable research.
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