ONE DAY ONE GENOME

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.

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.

Microbial Genomics is the scientific field that studies the entire genetic material of microorganisms, i.e. their genome.
This field helps in understanding the structure, function, evolution of microorganisms and their interactions with other organisms.

Better understanding of infectious diseases – By sequencing the genome of bacteria and viruses, it helps in preventing the spread of diseases and in the development of new medicines and vaccines.
Identification of resistant bacteria – It helps in understanding the structure and adaptability of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, so that new medical methods can be developed.
Environmental impact – Through microbial genomics, such microorganisms are identified, which can help in biodegradation and environmental purification.
Contribution in Agriculture Sector – It is helpful in increasing agricultural productivity and developing organic fertilizers by studying soil microorganisms.
Biotechnology and Industry – Microbial genomics is used in biofuel, medicine, food processing and other biotechnology sectors.

Microorganisms are small organisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye. They are studied under Microbiology.

Bacteria: Single-celled organisms found in various environments.
Viruses: Infectious particles that can reproduce only inside the cells of other organisms.
Algae: Plant-like microorganisms that can photosynthesize.
Fungi: Organisms like yeast and mold that can decompose organic matter.
Protozoa: Single-celled organisms found in various environments.