DNA Polymorphism in Contemporary Indian Population and Ancient Skeletal Remains

Anthropological Survey of India initiated the national project “DNA Polymorphism in Contemporary Indian Population and Ancient Skeletal Remains” in tenth five year plan, It studied the DNA material of Indian populations including endangered tribal populations of Andaman Islands. The Survey begins to develop a resource of cell lines and DNA samples that can be used to study DNA sequence polymorphisms in contemporary Indian populations with the following objectives.

 

1. To study Genetic diversity – mtDNA,  Y Chromosome markers;
2. To understand phylogenetic architecture of the Indian populations;
3. To generate DNA database of Indian tribal populations;
4. To know the candidate gene association with various diseases;
5. To identify new candidate gene through genome-wide studies.

 

In the context of the above objectives in last three (10th, 11th & 12th) five year plans, survey have more emphasized:

 

(a) To understand genetic diversity of Indian populations through DNA polymorphism by establishing a catalogue of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) among various ethnic groups in different geographic regions of India based on direct re-sequencing of haploid genomes (mtDNA and Y chromosome). Information about genetic variation is critical for understanding how genes function or malfunction and for understanding how genetic and functional variations are related.

(b) To establish Indian role in the dispersal of modern humans out of Africa. Modern humans could have taken the “southern route of dispersal,” utilising the coastlines to travel from Africa, through Arabia, across the Indian subcontinent and then into South-East Asia and finally into Australia.

(c)  Use high-throughput sequencing technologies for analysis of sequence variation in the Indian population and to make this data available to the scientific community via centralized public databases.

Currently, Anthropological survey of India has studied 75 communities comprising 7807 blood samples from different parts of the country under this project. Communities’  names have given below:

Sl.No	Name of the Community	Sl.No	Name of the Community
1	Jarawa	38	Mullu Kurumba
2	Nicobarese	39	Panian
3	Andh	40	Porja
4	Hill Kolam	41	Savara
5	Kamar	42	Soliga
6	Kathakur	43	Toda
7	Kathodi	44	Erukula
8	Katkari	45	Yanadi
9	Korku	46	Kani
10	Madia	47	Konda Reddy
11	Malpaharia	48	Koya Dora
12	Mathakur	49	Kota
13	Nihal	50	UraliKuruman
14	KhutiaKhond	51	Dongri Bhil
15	Munda	52	GadiaLohar
16	PaudiBhuiya	53	Padar
17	Toto	54	Dhodia
18	Bhoi Khasi	55	Nayaka
19	DirangMonpa	56	Bhil
20	Gallong	57	Karen
21	Lachungpa	58	Bondo
22	Lepcha	59	Asur
23	Paitei	60	Birhor
24	Shertukpen	61	Juang
25	SonowalKachari	62	PahadiKorwa
26	Tai Ahom	63	Mizo (Lushai)
27	Tai Khampti	64	Nishi
28	Wanchoo	65	Rabha
29	Angami Naga	66	Hmar
30	Bhotia (Rung)	67	Mara
31	Allu Kurumba	68	Raji
32	Betta Kuruba	69	Jaunsari (4 Groups)
33	Chenchu	70	Bhotia (Tolcha&Marcha)
34	Irula	71	Damor
35	JenuKuruba	72	Meena
36	Kattunayakan	73	Kolgha
37	Koraga	74	Kotwalia

On the other hand, to fulfill the objectives no.4 & no.5, this survey took an individual project on some of the genetic disorders to know candidate gene associations with various diseases. The details are shown below;

Sl.No	Project	Regional Centers
1	Parkinson Disease	Head Office, Kolkata
2	Type I Diabetes	Head Office, Kolkata
3	Aggression and Aggressive Behavior	Head Office, Kolkata
4	Gallbladder cancer	Head Office, Kolkata
5	Breast Cancer	Head Office, Kolkata
6	Alcoholism	Head Office, Kolkata
7	Spina Bifida	Head Office, Kolkata
8	Cardiac Disease	Head Office, Kolkata
9	Type 2 Diabetes	SRC, Mysore
10	Handigodu Syndrome	SRC, Mysore
11	Obesity	SRC, Mysore
12	Cardiovascular Disease	SRC, Mysore
13	Coronary Heart Disease	NWRC, Dehradun
14	Diabetic Retinopathy	WRC, Udiapur