Chinese geneticists across the Pacific: a century of scientific legacies in genetics and genomics

Revisiting the foundation era of plant genomics with a commentary on the pioneering contributions of Prof. Chittaranjan Kole

Abstract The evolution of plant genomics has been shaped by several pioneering milestones, beginning with the introduction of restriction fragment length polymorphism–based genetic linkage maps in the mid‐1980s. Among the global contributors, Prof. Chittaranjan Kole stands as a distinguished figure whose work fundamentally shifted the trajectory of plant genomics and molecular breeding. This tribute highlights his scientific journey and groundbreaking contributions, from being the first Indian scientist to physically map and sequence a plant gene in barley to establishing the foundations of molecular cytogenetics, comparative genomics, and molecular evolution and phylogenetic relationships in plants. His landmark research on Brassica genomics, including high‐resolution mapping, Mendelization of quantitative trait loci (QTLs), and innovative use of recombinant inbred lines, enabled unprecedented insights into trait evolution, stress biology, and genome homology between Brassica species and Arabidopsis. Prof. Kole's work on mapping genes and QTLs associated with flowering time, biotic stress resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and genome evolution has provided a framework now integral to marker‐assisted selection, genomic breeding, and climate‐resilient crop development. This article offers a scholarly reflection on his pioneering contributions, establishing Prof. Kole as a founding architect of plant genomics research in India and one of its most influential contributors globally.

Bridging precision agriculture and human medicine through comparative genetics.

Recent Progress in Characterizing Germline Mutations and Their Transmission Across Generations.

Bridging human genetics and community medicine: emerging applications for precision public health

Historically, human genetics and community medicine have evolved as separate disciplines. The domain of genetics has been on molecular mechanisms of disease and community medicine has traditionally been on prevention at the population level and health systems. Over the last two decades, advances in genomic technologies, falling sequencing costs and the expansion of large-scale biobanks have made it possible to integrate genetic insights into public health. This convergence has led to the development of precision public health, which seeks to improve disease prevention, risk stratification and health interventions at the population level. Moreover, in countries such as India, the distinct genetic diversity resulting from endogamy and founder effects points to the necessity of population-specific genomic approaches within public health frameworks. This review summarizes the existing evidence for the incorporation of human genetics into community medicine in the following areas: genetic epidemiology, population risk prediction, genetic screening across the life course, infectious disease genomics, pharmacogenomics, and genetic determinants of non-communicable diseases. It shows the potential of tools such as polygenic risk scores, pathogen genome sequencing and pharmacogenomic testing to enhance early detection, targeted prevention and rational therapeutics. The review also discusses the Indian context, with examples of national initiatives such as the Genome, India Project and the National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission as examples of translating genomic science to public health practice. Crucially, it addresses implementation challenges such as ancestry bias, ethical considerations, health system readiness, and the need for culturally sensitive community engagement.

Advancing Human Artificial Chromosomes at the Dawn of Synthetic Genomics.

Human artificial chromosomes (HACs) are engineered, chromosome-scale DNA molecules that replicate and segregate autonomously in mammalian cells, offering a unique platform for large, stable, nonintegrating genetic delivery. The first generation of HACs emerged prior to synthetic genomics efforts, and their development has aided understanding of chromosome structure and centromere function. In parallel, microbial synthetic genomics demonstrated that entire viral, bacterial, and yeast chromosomes can be designed, synthesized, assembled, and functionally validated, establishing core principles for genome-scale engineering. Recent advances in large DNA assembly, long-read sequencing, and epigenetic centromere specification now position HACs within this broader synthetic genomics framework. We review and integrate lessons from microbial systems with advances in mammalian chromosome biology and discuss how HACs are becoming increasingly precise and customizable platforms. Current efforts promise to expand their potential for gene and cell therapy, functional genomics, humanized models, and the rational construction of synthetic mammalian genomes.

Geneticization studies as a theoretical field: an uneven history and conceptual reconstruction