Millions At Risk In 'Conservative' South Asia

Despite making considerable economic growth in recent times, South Asia is in deep crisis mainly because of its 'conservative' social culture. A recent study has revealed that the region is rife with undiscovered genetic disease.

According to the study conducted by the Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) and published in 'Nature Genetics' journal on July 17, most South Asian linguistic races and caste groups have a high vulnerability for 'population-specific' diseases. Out of 263 unique South Asian groups studied, around 81 have a large number of recessive diseases.

In South Asia, inter-caste or inter-tribe marriages are rear phenomenon. Even, some groups in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan prefer marriages within a family. Although such culture shows the existence of a strong community feeling in the region, researchers opine...