-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- Gene Sequence Finished http://www.xtra.co.nz/homepage/news/main/0,1081,News%3AWorld+News%3A171819,0 0.html 05:37AM Fri Apr 07 2000 NZST Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent WASHINGTON, April 6 (Reuters) - Celera Genomics said on Thursday it had finished the first step of sequencing the genes of one person, making a human genetic map that could eventually transform medicine and biology. The U.S. company aims to be the first to have a complete sequence of the human genome, which is the collection of all the genes and other genetic material that are the basic blueprint of life. Scientists will use this map to learn more about genes involved in disease, how medicines work, and the workings of basic human biology. "This is the key milestone," Craig Venter, chairman and chief scientific officer of Celera, said in an interview. The Rockville, Maryland-based company's shares rose US$28 on the news to $141. Celera plans to use the genes of five different people, who will remain anonymous, to make up a final human genome sequence. It will copy this sequence several times over to make sure it is correct. It started working on the human genome in September, using a method called whole genome shotgun sequencing. This is a different, quicker method from that used by a public alliance of researchers, called the Human Genome Project, which is also working to sequence the human genome. "Now that we have completed the sequencing of one human being's genome we will turn our computational power to the task of ordering the human genome," Venter said. "For the next several weeks we'll be working on assembly," he added. "This is expected to allow researchers worldwide and our subscribers to utilize our data to make important medical advances." Celera has been accused of failing to keep its promise to make the human genome information widely available. But Venter told a hearing of the U.S. House Energy and Environment subcommittee of the Committee on Science on Thursday he would keep that promise. "We will be publishing the assembled, accurate, annotated sequence," he told the committee. The sequence is only a very early first step to understanding the human genome. It does not tell scientists what the genes do -- it just gives the order of the nucleotides, which are the molecules that make up the twisted double helix of DNA. Celera has taken the genes and broken them apart into two different lengths. It uses standard genetic technology to read out the nucleotides -- known by the initials A, C, T and G. These four nucleotides repeat over and over again in varying patterns, and these patterns make up the genetic code. What Celera has now is what has been described as a big pile of jigsaw puzzle pieces. It will now use its powerful computers to read the A, C, T and G code and put together the pieces. Mark Adams, vice president for genome programs at Celera, said the five people were chosen for their diversity. "They are not five white guys," he said in a recent interview. The Human Genome Project, in contrast, is using a "mosaic" of about 10 different donors. Most of the sequence will come from one person's genes. He, too, will remain anonymous. Scientists then hope to compare various people's different genes to one another to find the tiny changes in the code that make one person different from another. "We stand to gain enormous benefits, not the least of which is the way medicine will be practiced in the new millennium," Neal Lane, scientific adviser to President Bill Clinton, told the House hearing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- © Copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
