Biotech-PRIDE (Promotion of Research and Innovation through Da | UPSC Current Affairs Daily

Biotech-PRIDE (Promotion of Research and Innovation through Data Exchange) Guidelines was released by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology.

Website of Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) was also launched.

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.

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.

SOURCE: PIB