Archive Site Provided for Historical Purposes
Human Genome News, November 1991; 3(4)
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program
At many locations cDNA studies form an important part of Human Genome Project research. During the Human Gene Mapping 11 Workshop in London on August 18-22, about 25 people met to discuss a possible role for the Human Genome Organization (HUGO) in coordinating cDNA studies. Participants included representatives of many leading cDNA research groups and most funding agencies supporting cDNA programs.
The meeting, chaired by Charles Cantor, HUGO Vice-President, North America (Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory), and Edwin Southern (University of Oxford), heard brief summaries of current cDNA projects. The presentations indicated that the entire community would benefit if HUGO collated and provided information about the nature and scope of cDNA work worldwide. A small group of scientists, chaired by Chris Fields (NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) and Ross Sibson (U.K. Human Genome Resource Center), agreed to hold further discussions to consider how best to accomplish this goal.
During the meeting several ways were identified in which HUGO can help the cDNA community avoid duplication of research efforts. These included (1) making arrangements for researchers to screen existing cDNA sequence databases to determine which sequences are already present and (2) establishing procedures for the exchange of characterized cDNAs so research groups can remove corresponding sequences from existing libraries. Both possibilities will be explored further within the community.
Major differences were discussed regarding the proprietary value of partial or complete cDNA sequences as viewed by U.S. and European research groups; other divergences were thought to exist in Japan and other nations. Issues raised by these contrasting views are complex and have the potential to influence the course of human genome research.
Contacts:
Reported by Liz Evans
HUGO, London
The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v3n4).
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.
