Important Facts For Prelims
Biotech-PRIDE
- 31 Jul 2021
- 2 min read
Why in News
Recently, Biotech-PRIDE (Promotion of Research and Innovation through Data Exchange) Guidelines was released by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology.
- Further, a website of Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) was also launched.
Key Points
- Biotech-PRIDE Guidelines:
- These guidelines envisage to bridge other existing biological datasets/data centres with the IBDC, which will be called Bio-Grid.
- This Bio-Grid will be a National Repository for biological knowledge, information and data.
- Also, Bio-Grid will be responsible for enabling its exchange, developing measures for safety, standards and quality for datasets and establishing detailed modalities for accessing data.
- These guidelines will be implemented through Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC).
- Currently, India ranks number 4 amongst the top 20 countries contributing biological databases.
- These guidelines envisage to bridge other existing biological datasets/data centres with the IBDC, which will be called Bio-Grid.
- Need for Bio-Grid and its Advantages:
- With a large population of over 135 crore and heterogeneous character of the country, India needs its own exclusive database for Indian research and solutions.
- This indigenous database will have a huge enabling mechanism for exchange and adoption of data by young scientists and researchers for the benefit of Indian citizens.
- Sharing a wide range of large scale data advances the understanding of the molecular and biological processes.
- This will contribute to human health, agriculture, animal husbandry, fundamental research and thus will extend to societal benefits.
- Advances in DNA sequencing with a steep drop in DNA sequencing cost have enabled government agencies to fund research towards generation of large volumes of biological data in various sectors of Biosciences.
- Important Schemes and Policies Regarding Biotech:
