Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Molecular Evaluation of Genetic Variability and Evolutionary Pattern in Santhal and Tharu Tribes from Bihar |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Focus area : | Genetics and Anthropology |
Principal Investigator : | Prof. Narendra Srivastava, Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University, Madhepura, Bihar |
Timeline Start Year : | 2024 |
Timeline End Year : | 2027 |
Contact info : | assoprofzoolbnmu@gmail.com |
Details
Executive Summary : | In India, a number of endogamous groups distinguished based on castes hierarchy, religion and language are present and provide an opportunity for genetic and anthropological studies. Indian subcontinent was invaded and ruled by multiple ethnic groups since the beginning of 500 B.C. Historically Bihar has been cradle of multiple civilizations and ethnicity with genetic purity of the race and hence provides on interesting admixture of genetically diverse populations in which even today we can study genetic heterogeneity (Saha et al, 1992). As per 2011 census there are 705 ethnic groups notified as schedule tribes under article 342 of Indian constitution. In Bihar, 8.3 % of total tribal populations are residing from time immemorial and conserve their genetic and cultural heritage due to endogamous nature and non-mixing behavior with other populations. Hence there is no or least chance of gene flow. In India most studies are related to conventional genetic variations in single gene polymorphism. The locus by locus description of several markers provides information about diversity but do not provide meaningful information about the genetic structure of the population or genetic affinities among populations. Hence for establishment of meaningful relationship, analysis of the ancestry and generation of gene database of tribal populations, the study of molecular markers is necessary in addition to the conventional markers of genetic polymorphism. The tribal populations of Bihar are mainly confined around Indo Nepal boarder and bordering districts of Jharkhand. The tribal populations residing in Indo Nepal tarai are generally migrated from Chhotanagpur plateau for agriculture work more than 250 years back. But Tharu population is considered to be Rajput descendants from Thar region of Rajasthan and migrated here during 1000 – 1100 AD. In the present project a predominant tribal population of BIHAR and JHARKHAND known as Santhal, belonging to Austro – Asiatic group, and the Tharu population, belonging to Tibeto Burman group are selected for the proposed study. In the present study both the conventional as well as molecular markers are considered for the evaluation. Although, similar natured work have been published from some tribes of Bihar (Pandey et al, 2012, Shrivastava, 2021, 2022). But the works on molecular markers to evaluate genomic polymorphism on tribal populations are nil from the Bihar despite the fact that such studies are made on other tribal populations from India. The molecular markers considered for the study are insertion/ deletion polymorphism of Aluindel allele profile and Y chromosomal STR (Shrivastava el al, 2016). On the basis of the findings the molecular data will be collected and frequencies of both conventional and molecular markers will be determined for the studies on heterozygosity, inter and intra – population relationship and/or variability and ancestry of both tribes. |
Co-PI: | Prof. Moshahid Alam Rizvi, Jamia Millia Islamia,New Delhi-110025 |
Total Budget (INR): | 27,66,260 |
Organizations involved