Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program
Human Genome News, March 1993; 4(6)
GENOME CENTER:
Los Alamos National Laboratory
(DOE; established 1988)
DIRECTORS:
Robert K. Moyzis
Larry L. Deaven, Deputy Director
CONTACT:
Lynn Clark, Technical Coordinator
(505/667-9376, Fax: -2891; moyzis@flovax.lanl.gov)
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Center for Human Genome Studies
Life Sciences Division, MS M886
Los Alamos, NM 87545
OTHER KEY RESEARCHERS:
Michael Altherr,Tony Beugelsdijk, Michael Cinkosky, Norman Doggett, Jim Fickett, Deborah Grady, Ed Hildebrand, Dick Keller, Jon Longmire, Mary Kay McCormick, Pat Medvick, Julie Meyne, David Torney, Michael Yesley
MAJOR GOALS:
- Assembly of complete high-resolution (0.1 Mb) maps of chromosome 16 and chromosome arm 5p.
- Determination of the molecular basis of chromosome structure and function and isolation of selected disease genes on chromosomes 5 and 16.
- Short-term development and support for large-scale physical mapping and sequencing projects and long-term development of tools for the storage, manipulation, and analysis of genome data.
- Development and application of newmethods for physical mapping; use of robotics in handling and storing DNA fragments; construction of DNA libraries from flow-sorted chromosomes; and rapid, inexpensive, large-scale sequencing.
- Studies of ethical, legal, and social issues arising from the increased availability of genome data.
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- Construction of maps, including (1) a high-resolution cosmid/YAC physical map of human chromosome 16 consisting of 500 contigs covering over 95% of the chromosome (map translated into framework STS map of 150 new regionally localized markers) and (2) a framework STS map of human chromosome 5 [with John Wasmuth (UC, Irvine)] consisting of 200 new markers regionally assigned with a resolution of 4 Mb (5q) to 1 Mb (5p).
- Biological developments, including (1) identification and cloning of the human telomere, the endpoint for genetic and physical maps; (2) determination of unusual 3-D structure of telomeric DNA [with Alex Rich (MIT)]; (3) identification and cloning of highly conserved centromeric repetitive DNA regions, likely human centromere components; and (4) construction of a novel cDNA library from mRNA obtained from a paternally encoded human pregnancy (hydatidiform mole).
- Development of technology, including (1) NLGLP (with LLNL) chromosome-specific libraries (over 2500 DNA libraries sent to research and production laboratories world-wide, including complete digest libraries for each human chromosome; partial-digest phage and cosmid libraries for human chromosomes 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, X, and Y; and complete digest low-chimeric YAC libraries for human chromosomes 5, 9, 16, and 21; (2) flow-cytometry techniques to detect single DNA molecules, resulting in a CRADA with LTI for codevelopment of a rapid DNA-sequencing technology; and (3) a robot for high-density cosmid/YAC array replication and distribution.
AVAILABLE RESOURCES:
- Phage and cosmid libraries developed within NLGLP (see accomplishments).
- Low-chimeric YAC libraries: total genomic (180 kb, average insert) and chromosome-specific for chromosomes 5, 9, 16, and 21.
- CEPH Mark II to VII YAC libraries.
- High-density filter arrays of cosmid and YAC libraries.
- STS collections for chromosomes 16 (200) and 5 (200).
- Panel of somatic cell hybrids for sorting each human chromosome.
- SIGMA, a graphical map editor.
- cDNA-inform database and software for comparison of sequences.
- Modified Biomek robot and LANL robot for high-density array construction.
Genome Centers Acronym List
HGMIS Staff
Return to List of Genome Centers
Return to Table of Contents
The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v4n6).
