Nagaland varsity genome project lands in soup

KOHIMA, May 2 ? In the face of stiff opposition from certain NGOs and teachers, Nagaland University today clarified that the ?Naga genome project? aims at determining the genetic diversity within Naga tribes and the study has been carried out as per norms of the Varsity Act, reports PTI.

The MoU signed between the Zoology department of the University and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) for a project on Naga genetic diversity had been approved by the Registrar, a university release said. The MoU signed between CCMB director, Dr Lalji Singh, and head of Zoology deportment, Dr Sharief UB Ahmed had given the responsibility to Y Sharat Chandra, a lecturer in the Department of Zoology to carry out the project by collecting blood samples. It said as per the intended study, Chandra was asked to collect blood samples of a minimum of 50 healthy and unrelated individuals from the tribal population of Nagaland and analyses them at CCMB under the supervision of its scientists. The study intends to trace paternal and maternal lineages and determine the extent of genetic diversity within and between tribes with the aim to trace the origins of different tribes, the release clarified. Nagaland University Teachers Association (NUTA) expressed is reservation against the genome project, saying that the MoU was to signed in accordance with the University. The teachers association, which has been demanding removal of the present NU Vice-Chancellor, Prof GD Sharma, said despite opposition from several individuals and organisations, the university authority had not bothered to explain to the public about the purpose of the genome project. NUTA alleged that Prof Sharma had violated both ?legal and ethical codes? of Nagaland University, saying that such research might be used to ?device means to destroy the natural immune system? of Naga people. But the University release clarified that this kind of work was already under progress on many castes and tribal population. Besides this, the study will also entail the association between DNA polymorphism and disease frequencies among the population groups under the research project. ?The Naga People?s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and other NGOs opposed the genetical study, expressing apprehension that a conspiracy was being hatched to ?divide the Nagas in the guise of a research project for which blood samples were collected.?