Gotra Genomics

Gotra Genomics

By Anu Acharya, CEO, MapmyGenome

Gotra is now the talk of the town with political leaders using it all over the place. However, there may be something that we genomics folks can contribute to this conversation.

The etymology of the word “Gotra” comes from “Gau” meaning cow and “Trahi” meaning shed — essentially keeping all relatives of the same lineage together. In genomics parlance, Gotra is typically the Y chromosome passed on through generations. You inherit a Gotra from your father and pass it on if you are male.

What Our Ancestors Knew About Genetics

One of the reasons I think our ancestors had an inkling about genetics was that persons from the same Gotra were not allowed to marry — which makes sense, as it reduces the probability of them having the same mutations. This is essentially a form of carrier screening, practised millennia before the science existed.

However, what the ancient Rishis did not know was about mitochondria and its importance. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is passed down from mothers to both sons and daughters, but sons cannot pass along their mother’s mtDNA to their children. Examples of mitochondrial genetic defects include Leigh Syndrome, NARP (Neuropathy, Ataxia, Retinitis Pigmentosa), and Diabetes mellitus and deafness (DAD). The Gotra system, being patrilineal, missed this entirely.

There are also many disease conditions on the autosomes or X chromosome. So there is more to inbreeding and genetics and disease than just basing marriages on Gotra exclusivity. Probabilistically speaking, our ancestors did reduce the chances of inbreeding — which I think was a good start.

The Modern Solution

If we wanted to truly prevent inbreeding and reduce chances of genetic disease in offspring, a comprehensive carrier screen would be the most ideal approach. At MapmyGenome, we have BabyMap and MatchmyGenome to understand how offspring may be affected and to help couples make informed decisions after genetic counselling.

Coming back to our politicians — I hope they focus on governance and following the Constitution of India. For knowing more about the constitution of our bodies, our lineage, and our DNA in particular, MapmyGenome is here to help.