India is no longer lagging in scientific research and breakthrough discoveries. And this year, India has outdone itself in terms of genetics.
In this article, we will cover the 5 most remarkable genetic discoveries and projects from India in 2025, to know how our nation is stepping into a future where genetics and DNA research will play a big role.
Read more: 10 Indian Programs That Quietly Protect Our DNA and Genetic Health.
Key Topics:
Bharat Cancer Genome Atlas
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, in collaboration with Karkinos Healthcare, Mumbai; Chennai Breast Clinic and Cancer Research and Relief Trust, Chennai, initiated the cancer genome project.
Researchers collected a total of 960 exome sequencing data from 480 breast cancer patients across the country. They started this project in 2020 and have now completed it.
Cancer is a long-fought battle. You won’t believe there is a 12.8% increase in cancer incidence every year since 2022. Despite having a high number of cancer patients, India has always been underrepresented in global cancer genome studies. But this initiative by IIT Madras is going to be a game-changer.
By studying the genomes of cancer patients in India, doctors can now aim for personalised treatment strategies. And even come up with new diagnostic methods for better treatment.
The Genetic Secrets of Indian Yak
In a collaborative effort, the four Indian Council of Agricultural Research institutions assembled the first-ever chromosome-level genome of the Indian Yak. This achievement has the potential to transform Yak breeding programmes, conservation strategies, and further scientific understanding of this species.
The 4 ICAR institutions that contributed to the successful completion of this project were ICAR-NRC Arunachal Pradesh, ICAR-IIAB Ranchi, ICAR-CIRC Meerut, and ICAR-CICR Nagapattinam.
The researchers believe that the study’s findings will be essential in identifying and protecting genetically diverse yak populations, improving desirable characteristics like disease resistance and milk production.
It also clarifies the genetic processes behind the yak’s special adaptation to harsh environments, and offers insights into the evolution and adaptation of other bovine species.
To encourage participation and facilitate additional research into this rare animal, the genome assembly is now openly accessible to the larger scientific community. This discovery strengthens India’s agricultural, livestock and animal genetic research.
Genome India project
GenomeIndia (GI) is a pan-India initiative funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. GI’s main objective is to create an in-depth repository of genetic variations across India’s diverse population.
Professor Vijaylakshmi Ravindranath launched this project in January 2020. After two years of intense brainstorming, the team formed the GenomeIndia Consortium.
The GenomeIndia Consortium is a group of top Indian institutions that are assigned individual responsibilities.
For this project, researchers collected 20,195 samples from healthy individuals and archived them in the Biobank at CBR Bengaluru. Of these samples, they have sequenced 10,074 and conducted Genome Wide Association Studies on 1,342.
The key findings of this project include the sequencing of the genomes of 10,074 healthy, unrelated Indians from 85 populations. From 9,772 individuals, researchers identified 180 million genetic variants, including 27 million rare variants. Researchers linked many of these to diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypercholesterolemia, and cancers. Nature Genetics published these results in April 2025.
The interesting part is that out of these 27 million rare variants, 7 million are novel and not found in global databases. This highlights India’s unique genetic landscape. For a country with so much genetic diversity, this project can be a game-changer.
Until now, we relied on Western databases for treatments and drug design, but the GenomeIndia project now enables precision medicine tailored to our population.
Genome Sequencing of the Tribal Population of Gujarat
Gujarat has become the first indian state to launch the tribal genome sequencing project, an initiative to enhance the health and well-being of tribal citizens.
Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) will prosecute this project and sequence the genomes of 2,000 individuals from the tribal population in 17 districts of Gujarat.
The genome sequencing of the tribal population will bring long-term improvement in tribal health, with the aim of identifying genetic markers for natural immunity, cancer and most importantly, hereditary diseases such as sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia.
The government also claims that cutting-edge biotech and genetic technologies will be used at every step of this project.
Research often tends to overlook the marginalized communities, but this initiative by the government of Gujarat can be a milestone in indian genomic research history.
India’s first gene-edited sheep
Team of scientists from Kashmir who developed CRISPR-edited sheep. Image credit: Greater Kashmir.
The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) has achieved a significant scientific milestone in the field of animal biotechnology by successfully producing the first gene-edited sheep in India.
The gene editing was performed using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene editing tool that allows scientists to cut DNA at specific locations and either add, remove or change the pieces of genetic material.
It is an efficient and precise gene editing tool used in agriculture, medicine, and research to correct mutations or even improve traits. A gene that controls muscle growth, myostatin, has been altered in the gene-edited lamb.
When this gene is altered, the animal’s muscle mass is increased by over 30%. This feature is present in several European sheep breeds, such as the Texel, but is normally lacking in Indian sheep breeds.
This breakthrough research and achievement in Kashmir can open doors for the future of sustainable livestock farming in India, with potential for improving livestock breeding, boosting food production, and creating healthier and more resilient animals.
Wrapping up:
India’s journey in science and research was slow, but not anymore. With these mind-blowing and amazing research projects, India is ready for a science-backed future.
Advanced technology, government support and a strong vision of our scientists have proved that genetics in India is no longer just a subject. And this is just the beginning!
With all this research, India steps into a future of improved and precise treatments, conservation and advanced technologies. Subscribe to Genetic Education for more insights.
Resources:
- Genome India Project. Accessed 3 Sept. 2025.
- Greater Kashmir, 3 June 2025. “India’s First Gene-Edited Sheep Born at SKUAST- Kashmir: Officials.”
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras. “IIT Madras Launches First-of-Its-Kind Cancer Genome Database to Transform Cancer Research in India.”
- The Times of Indian, Sept 2025. “Researchers of 4 ICAR Institutions Unlock Indian Yak’s Genetic Secrets.”
- Government of Gujarat. “Tribal Genome Sequencing Project.”
