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Human Genome Quarterly, Summer 1989; 1(2)

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Genome Mapping and Sequencing Meeting

Technical advances presented at the 1989 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory meeting on Genome Mapping and Sequencing led participants to conclude that a complete ordered clone map for all human chromosomes will be forthcoming in the next few years. Acknowledged by the genome research community as the world's foremost assembly for dissemination of the latest genome mapping and sequencing research results, the Cold Spring Harbor meeting was a forum for presenting key research efforts and latest advances in this rapidly developing area.

Credit should be given to the organizers Charles Cantor, Maynard Olson, and Richard Roberts for the excellent program and well-run meeting, which was held April 26-30, 1989, in Cold Spring Harbor, New York.

The following are some impressions and highlights of the meeting, particularly from the perspective of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Human Genome Program.

Gene libraries. The gene libraries being produced at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) are being used by numerous researchers around the world and are making a significant impact on human genome research.

Telomere studies. As an indication of the speed at which the field is moving last year one paper on the DNA sequence of the human telomere was presented (Bob Moyzis, LANL). This year an entire and interesting session was devoted to telomere studies.

Physical mapping. DOE-sponsored comprehensive physical mapping of human chromosomes is progressing well and represents the major share of the world's total efforts in this research area. One very promising new approach is the mapping by nucleation at repetitive sequences being done at LANL. Other important contributions included: improved in-situ hybridization technology, radiation hybrid mapping, utilization of the polymerase chain reaction, and yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) cloning.

Techniques and Resources Needed To Complete Ordered Clone Map

The techniques and resources needed to complete an ordered clone map of the human genome are now considered to be in hand, or at least within reach, and they include:

  • the various fingerprinting approaches (e.g., mapping by size, restriction patterns, and nucleation at repetitive sequences);
  • radiation hybrid mapping;
  • hybridization patterns of oligonucleotide probes to large insert libraries;
  • YAC or other very large insert vector systems;
  • DNA libraries;
  • purification of large DNA fragments;
  • improved in-situ hybridization;
  • rare-cutter linking clones;
  • polymerase chain reaction; and
  • the growing number of markers on the genetic map.

Submitted by: David A. Smith, Acting Director
Health Effects Research Division
Office of Health and Environmental Research
U.S. Department of Energy

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Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v1n2).

Human Genome Project 1990–2003

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.

Human Genome News

Published from 1989 until 2002, this newsletter facilitated HGP communication, helped prevent duplication of research effort, and informed persons interested in genome research.