The history of human cytogenetics in India—A review

• Published in: Gene Vol. 589; no. 2; pp. 112 - 117
• Main Author: Dutta, Usha R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10-09-2016
• Subjects: Banding techniques; Chromosomal abnormalities; Chromosome Aberrations - classification; Chromosomes, Human - chemistry; Chromosomes, Human - ultrastructure; Comparative Genomic Hybridization - history; Comparative Genomic Hybridization - methods; Cytogenetics; Cytogenetics - history; Cytogenetics - methods; Diagnostic Services - history; Diagnostic Services - organization & administration; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing - history; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing - methods; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence - history; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence - methods; India; Karyotyping - history; Karyotyping - methods; Molecular cytogenetics; NOR; Q-banding; C; Banding techniques; R-banding; GTG-banding; Cytogenetics; Chromosomal abnormalities; Molecular cytogenetics; India
• ISSN: 0378-1119; 1879-0038
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.01.052

It is 60years since the discovery of the correct number of chromosomes in 1956; the field of cytogenetics had evolved. The late evolution of this field with respect to other fields is primarily due to the underdevelopment of lenses and imaging techniques. With the advent of the new technologies, especially automation and evolution of advanced compound microscopes, cytogenetics drastically leaped further to greater heights. This review describes the historic events that had led to the development of human cytogenetics with a special attention about the history of cytogenetics in India, its present status, and future. Apparently, this review provides a brief account into the insights of the early laboratory establishments, funding, and the German collaborations. The details of the Indian cytogeneticists establishing their labs, promoting the field, and offering the chromosomal diagnostic services are described. The detailed study of chromosomes helps in increasing the knowledge of the chromosome structure and function. The delineation of the chromosomal rearrangements using cytogenetics and molecular cytogenetic techniques pays way in identifying the molecular mechanisms involved in the chromosomal rearrangement. Although molecular cytogenetics is greatly developing, the conventional cytogenetics still remains the gold standard in the diagnosis of various numerical chromosomal aberrations and a few structural aberrations. The history of cytogenetics and its importance even in the era of molecular cytogenetics are discussed.
•Brief history of human cytogenetics of India.•India and German collaborations.•The growth of human genetics by German collaborations.