Mukesh Ambani's new foray: Genome Mapping

Mukesh Ambani led Reliance group is foraying into Genome Mapping with a Rs 12,000 genetic sequencing test kit.

As per a Bloomberg report, the genetic test kit will be rolled out in the next few weeks. In 2021, Reliance acquired the Bengaluru based firm Strand Life Sciences, which developed the product. Reliance now owns 80% of the firm.

The genome test will be about 86% cheaper than other similar products that are available.

Ramesh Hariharan, chief executive officer of Strand Life told Bloomberg that this test will be able to reveal a person's predisposition to cancers, cardiac and neuro-degenerative ailments and also identify inherited genetic disorders. "It will be the cheapest such genomic profile in the world. We're going out at an aggressive price point to drive adoption as it gives us a chance to build a viable business in preventive healthcare", he went on to say.

This project will potentially bring personal gene-mapping to India's population and can be a treasure trove of biological data that can aid drug development and disease prevention.