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Human Genome News, September 1994; 6(3):5
Groups at Genethon and Whitehead Institute Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Center for Genome Research (CGR) recently reported significant progress in constructing genetic linkage maps of the human and mouse genomes [Nature Genetics, Special Issue 7, 217-27, 246-339 (June 1994)]. Citing the tremendous value of automating repetitive steps for map construction, researchers foresee completion of both maps by the end of the year. Increased marker density in the new maps is expected to make gene searches more efficient.
The Genethon team, headed by Jean Weissenbach, presented a human genetic linkage map featuring over 2000 new microsatellite markers spaced on average 2.9 cM apart and integrated into their 1992 map. Another 1000 markers were recently submitted to the Genome Data Base. Genethon researchers plan to produce a map with 5000 markers in spring 1995.
Eric Lander's group at CGR has placed over 5000 simple sequence length polymorphisms (SSLPs) on the mouse genetic map, with an average spacing of 0.30 cM. This represents a 13-fold increase in marker density over CGR's 1992 mouse genetic map, making this the most dense SSLP map constructed for any organism. Because many genes are conserved in both mouse and human, mouse genome maps are considered extremely valuable resources in elucidating the human genome.
After completing a 6000-marker mouse genetic map, CGR will begin constructing a physical map of the mouse genome based on the sequence tagged site (STS) content of mouse yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) libraries. A total of 10,000 STSs will be used, consisting of the 6000 SSLPs from the genetic map plus 4000 random STSs. CGR is also constructing a human physical map based on screening 10,000 STSs on YACs from the CEPH mega-YAC library.
[Genethon contact: Jean Weissenbach; Institut Pasteur; CNRS URA-1445; 25 rue du Docteur Roux; F-75724 Paris Cedex 15, France (Fax: +33-1/6077-8698, Internet: jsbach@genethon.fr).
CGR contact: Eric Lander; Whitehead Institute/MIT; One Kendall Square, Bldg. 300; Cambridge, MA 02139-1561 (617/252-1906, Fax: -1933, Internet: lander@genome.wi.mit.edu)]
Mapping Data. CGR human physical mapping and mouse genetic mapping data are released quarterly, usually within 2 weeks of the quarter's close, and announced by electronic messages posted to the newsgroups bionet.genome.chromosomes and bionet.announce. Data releases are accessible in the following ways:
[Help with database services: Lincoln Stein (617/252-1916, Internet: lstein@genome.wi.mit.edu]
[Contacts: Research Genetics, Inc.; 2130 Memorial Parkway SW; Huntsville, AL 35801 (800/533-4363, Fax: 205/536-9016). Genome Systems, Inc.; 7166 Manchester Rd.; St. Louis, MO 63143 (800/248-7609, Fax: 314/647-4134).]
Newsletter. In July, CGR began publishing a quarterly newsletter to provide up-to-date information about center progress and resources. The CGR Newsletter is available on WWW (URL http://www-genome.wi. mit.edu/) and in hard copy. (Subscriptions: Newsletter Editor; Whitehead Institute/MIT; One Kendall Square, Bldg. 300; Cambridge, MA 02139-1561 (Internet: newsletter@genome.mit.edu).]
1993-94 Genethon Map
The 1993-94 Genethon human genetic linkage map described in the first paragraph is available electronically:
[Contact: fizames@genethon.fr]
1993 CEPH-Genethon Physical Map
The 1993 CEPH-Genethon physical map announced in the December 16, 1993, issue of Nature is also available electronically:
HGMIS staff
The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v6n3).
