This is much more important than what is going on in Iraq. Genome map hailed as scientific landmark Mon Apr 14, 6:05 PM ET WASHINGTON (AFP) - A six-country consortium announced that it had entirely mapped the human genome (news - web sites), completing one of the most ambitious scientific projects ever and offering a major opportunity for medical advances. The six countries in the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Japan and the United States -- said the work had been finished two years ahead of schedule. Scientists have predicted major progress will now be made in the treatment of many previously incurable and genetic diseases, and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), the lead agency in the United States, said the work was historic. "The international effort to sequence the three billion DNA letters in the human genome is considered by many to be one of the most ambitious scientific undertakings of all time, even compared to splitting the atom or going to the moon," the NHGRI said in a statement. "The human genome project (news - web sites) has been an amazing adventure into ourselves to understand our own DNA instruction book, the shared inheritance of all human kind," said NHGRI director Francis Collins. "All of the project's goals have been completed successfully -- well in advance of the original deadline and for a cost substantially less than the original estimates," he added. The human genome map cost about 2.7 billion dollars to draw up, about 300 million dollars less than the original estimate, according to the US institute. Research by hundreds of experts at 20 centres in the six countries started in 1990, and a first draft of the sequence was made public in June 2000. Scientists announced in February they had completed a map of 95 percent of the human genome. The Human Genome Project covers about 99 percent of the human genome's gene-containing regions, and it has been sequenced to an accuracy of 99.9 percent, the US institute said. US researchers said they would release their "bold new vision" for the future of genome research later this month, officially ushering in "the era of the genome." The release will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the announcement by Nobel laureates James Watson and Francis Crick describing DNA's double helix. Watson, who was the first leader of the project, said "never would I have dreamed in 1953 that my scientific life would encompass the path from DNA's double helix to the three billion steps of the human genome." He added that the finished map was "a truly momentous occasion for every human being around the globe." The heads of government of all six nations in the consortium hailed the work of the scientists. "This genetic sequence provides us with the fundamental platform for understanding ourselves, from which revolutionary progress will be made in biomedical sciences and in the health and welfare of humankind," the leaders said in a joint statement. "Thus, we take today an important step toward establishing a healthier future for all the peoples of the globe, for whom the human genome serves as a common inheritance. _ "Their outstanding work will be noted in the history of science and technology, and as well in the history of humankind, as a landmark achievement." Knowledge of the human genome will enable scientists to find better ways of preventing medical problems, developing new drugs to treat previously untreatable disorders and designing medicines with fewer side effects, according to experts. The human genome project will also give scientists the tools to cure every known form of cancer because it provides researchers with a guide to where to look for cancer-causing defects in genes and enzymes, according to leading cancer researcher Brian Druker. "Sequencing the human genome...has created a revolution -- transforming biological science far beyond what we could imagine. We have opened the door into a vast and complex new biological landscape," said Aristides Patrinos of the US Office of Biological and Environmental Research.
You'da thought they could slip it in somewhere. That is more important... Not a whole lot of potential for running commentary, though.
Well, it was on the front page, yesterday. What's there to say? Genome - eh. Mmmmm-genomes. Remember that Simpsons where Lisa is faced with the prospect of genetically degenerative (Simpsons) intellect? My favorite part is when they lose the candy bars on the floor and Homer and Bart start snuffling around like pigs, then are joined by Marge and Maggie, and Homer lifts his snout and sez "Join Us." So whata got planned for gene-play rimmy?
What is there to say? Commentary? How about all of the knowledge about humanity that can now be looked into more scientifically, or the research and eventual cure of genetic diseases (they have already charted SARS), possible moral issues (such as genetic discrimination), the making of such information public so that it can be explored by all - governmental, academic, commercial, etc. - leading to a variety of different kinds of developments, and on... Right now the senate has two competing bills regarding some of the ethics of the genome issue...it is something that should be resolved soon, not something that should be put away on the back burner. Would everyone have their DNA checked in order to predict/prevent possible disease if it was cheap? The potential is there. Of course, there is also an Orweillian element - everyone's DNA checked and entered in a centralized database with a national ID card, etc.. Ha. Genomes are sexy.
All this done on high end Compaq servers and mainframes. Go Houston companies! (even though they are a California co. now)
dammit... they... keep... pulling me... back IN For those interested in the details, keep your ears open in the years ahead for news concerning the non-coding material in DNA (aka "junk DNA," though I hate that term). The majority of DNA appears to code for nothing, and it has largely been dismissed. However, more and more researchers are looking into its function. I've seen some excellent work using (of all things) a Zipf linguistic analysis; the Zipf tests suggest that the non-coding material is not random at all but rather organized as a language would be (i.e. it carries information). So basically, stay tuned. Scientists can't yell "CASE CLOSED" yet. okay back to lurking and working.
That is one of my favorite episodes...I feel the best part is the ending where all of the simpson men put pots on their heads and start charging each other...good stuff.
I agree I think they have just scratched the surface in some respects. So called "junk" DNA is going to contain a great deal more information than they currently have the means to understand.
"The most important news nobody is takling about" GUess no one wants to, since the Simpsons is the topic in this thread.
I already said that, so I agree. B-Bob, "If you post it he will come." At least, I was hoping you would. Simpsons idiots - go away...let the adults talk. Nobody wants to talk about any of the issues I brought up...booo.
