19/10/2026
A new beginning for cumin research in India!
Cumin, the golden seed of every Indian kitchen, now has its first global reference genome. Scientists at BRIC-Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (BRIC-CDFD), Hyderabad, sequenced the cumin cultivar GC-3 and assembled 1.277 billion bases, about 98% of the estimated genome. The genome is now listed at NCBI as the reference genome for cumin.
What this means:
- Nearly 30,000 genes and almost 300,000 markers, open to all researchers on Cumin GRDB
- A strong foundation for developing better cumin varieties
- A national digital resource built by seven institutions working as one team
Explore the database: https://database.cdfd.org.in/cumingrdb/
Our heartfelt thanks to the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, for its support, and to our partner institutions: ICAR-NBPGR, ICAR-NIPB, ICAR-IARI, CSIR-CSMCRI, RPCAU and ICAR.
Department of Biotechnology, India BRIC DBT Department of Science and Technology, Government of India Indian Council of Agricultural Research
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