An Initiative to Reduce Genetic Disorders

An Initiative to Reduce Genetic Disorders

An Initiative to Reduce Genetic Disorders(IANS)
27 January 2009

HYDERABAD — In an attempt to take the fruits of biotechnology to the common man and reduce the burden of genetic disorders such as thalassaemia and muscular dystrophies, the Genome Foundation here will set up diagnostic centres across rural India with the first such centre coming up in Uttar Pradesh.

The first satellite centre will come up in Jaunpur district, Genome Foundation head Lalji Singh told IANS. The centres will offer molecular diagnostic services, chromosomal analysis, prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling.

DNA profiling and related services for civil and forensic purposes such as paternity disputes, immigration matters, mass disaster and wildlife will also be offered. The centres will also screen and counsel for common disorders such as the thalassaemia and muscular dystrophies, with the initial focus being on pre-natal diagnosis tracking genetic disorders of an unborn child. A non-profit organisation formed in 2006, Genome is an initiative of scientists, industry, doctors and concerned citizens. It invites every citizen to donate at least Re 1 and ‘so the Foundation is by the people and for the people’, said Singh, a founder-member, adding that it is a first of its kind initiative in the world.

Eminent economist C. Rangarajan is the chairman. Singh, who is also director of the the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, said the first centre would become operational in a few months while the second would be set up in Kolar, Karnataka. The main centre in Hyde-rabad and its branches will test various kinds of genetic disorders.

RE is the abbrev. for the Rupee, the Indian currency.

[edit on 2009/1/27 by Aeons]

In a decade - genetic profiling part of job interview. Or pre-marriage contract. Not that sure that effect overall it will be positive, by the way. What about billions worldwide with problems? And genotype does not equal phenotype. Complex ethical issue.

it is just a cover for experimenting cheap and calling it ethical like the big pharmaceutical companies always do in poorer countries.

these are not the results we are looking for, move along...

It fits in with the cultural background of a caste system perfectly.

This will entrench the caste social system more, as the "higher" castes have more money to pursue these. The idea that a "higher" and "more pure" caste would EVER touch a sub-human caste will become even MORE entrenched than it is already.

I knew India would be the place this stuff would take off in. Their essential cultural backdrop is perfect for it. I suspect that the first clones/hybrid/cybrids will be born in India too. Their cultural backdrop is simply too perfect to be able to set up a situation of "not-quite-human" as an acceptable status.

I know that India has laws about it - and they don't matter. Many dhimmi are still born of rape and aren't believed. You can pick up any "personals" classifieds and see that Indians identify themselves and who they want to marry by their caste.