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.
- To study Genetic diversity – mtDNA, Y Chromosome markers;
- To understand phylogenetic architecture of the Indian populations;
- To generate DNA database of Indian tribal populations;
- To know the candidate gene association with various diseases;
- 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 |