Archive Site Provided for Historical Purposes
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program
In this issue...
Genome Project
In the News
Microbial Genomics
Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues and Educational Resources
Proteomics
Genetics in Medicine
Informatics
Web, Other Resources, Publications
Funding
Meeting Calendars & Acronyms
The annual genome issue of Science (October 23, 1998) highlights progress in genomics, including the analysis and use of genomic data from a variety of organisms. Articles report on new plant genome initiatives, provide an overview of 10 years of plant comparative genetics, and assess the conceptual organization and approaches of some current genome-related databases. Other features include the latest plan for the U.S. Human Genome Project and a report on the newest physical map of human gene-based markers.
In the "Report" and "Perspective" sections, papers on the complete sequence of Chlamydia trachomatis summarize major findings of the sequencing project for this bacterium, which is an agent of trachoma. Trachoma is a major cause of blindness in Asia and Africa and the most common sexually transmitted bacterial disease in the United States (p. 11).
A fold-out chart of Arabidopsis thaliana's genome illustrates advances in characterizing the flowering plant, a popular model for studying plant biology. Genome data generated by this project hold the potential for improved crops and plant factories that generate products such as biodegradable plastics. Another potential research outcome, which has relevance to human health, is an increased understanding of basic cellular processes extending across species. Researchers expect to finish this 120-Mb genome's DNA sequence by 2000.
The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v10n1-2).
The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international 13-year effort, 1990 to 2003. Primary goals were to discover the complete set of human genes and make them accessible for further biological study, and determine the complete sequence of DNA bases in the human genome. See Timeline for more HGP history.
Published from 1989 until 2002, this newsletter facilitated HGP communication, helped prevent duplication of research effort, and informed persons interested in genome research.