Lalji Singh
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Father of DNA fingerprinting in India
December 11, 2017: The Times of India
Prof Lalji Singh was considered the father of DNA fingerprinting in India. Founder of Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, he was also a former VC of BHU.
Singh is known for his work in the area of molecular basis of sex determination, wildlife conservation, forensics and evolution, and migration of humans. Chief medical superintendent of BHU’s SSL hospital OP Upadhyaya said Prof Lalji Singh had visited his native Kalvari village in Jaunpur recently and was on his way to Delhi when he reported some complications at LBS International Airport Babatpur in Varanasi. He was rushed to BHU’s trauma centre where preparations had been made to handle his case before his arrival, but he could not be saved, Upadhyaya said. It is suspected that Singh died of cardiac arrest.
Singh founded various institutes and laboratories in India, including the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics in 1995, Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) in 1998, and Genome Foundation in 2004, aiming to diagnose genetic disorders affecting the Indian population, especially the rural population.
He also served as the 25th vice chancellor of BHU and chairman of Board of Governors of Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi from August 2011to August 2014.
