The facility will bolster study of genetic adaptation to climate change, pathogen-host interactions, and the development of conservation strategies for endangered species such as tigers, elephants, riverine dolphins, etc.

About Next Generation DNA Sequencing

• DNA Sequencing: It involves determining the exact order of Nucleotides (Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, Thymine) in a DNA molecule.
  • The sequence tells scientists the kind of genetic information that is carried in a particular DNA segment.
• Next-generation sequencing (NGS): A modern method of analyzing genetic material that can rapidly sequence large amounts of DNA or RNA. 
• Benefit: NGS can sequence an entire genome within days, compared to months with earlier techniques.

Key NGS applications in various fields

• Microbiology: Helps in pathogen identification, outbreak tracking, and studying antimicrobial resistance by sequencing the genomes of bacteria, viruses, etc.
• Medical Research & Gene Therapy: Identify cancer types, replace defective genes for inherited diseases and control systems for precision drug delivery.
• Wildlife conservation: NGS enables assessment of population genetic health, diversity, evolutionary histories, disease surveillance, illegal trade detection, and climate-induced biodiversity impacts.
• Agriculture: Sequence crop genomes to enhance drought resistance & analyze pests’ DNA to develop eco-friendly pest control methods.