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In this issue...
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1997 Santa Fe Highlights
Human Genome Project Administration
In the News
Publications
Software and the Internet
Funding
Meeting Calendars & Acronyms
In April the DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) announced its interest in receiving new applications in genome instrumentation research for both substantial evolutionary improvements in current systems and revolutionary technologies for the post-2005 era. To stimulate contributions from investigators not previously involved in DOE's Human Genome Program, OBER invited applications from a broad range of scientists with backgrounds in biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. At press time, preapplication response had been excellent.
DOE's transition to production sequencing has been based largely on gel electrophoresis, with data acquisition by laser-induced fluorescence. However, this in no way decreases the necessity for innovative long-term basic research in the area of instrumentation support for genome studies. In this context, OBER is refocusing its current Genome Instrumentation Program, taking stock of current progress and considering likely future needs. [See related article on Jason Review.]
To complete the human genome sequence within the available budget and time, substantial improvements in existing sequencing methods would be advantageous. Further, OBER places a strong emphasis on research directed to completely new approaches to genomic analysis. After 2005 the ongoing need will be for fast and cost-effective determination of DNA sequence to compare sequences among individual humans and also to determine the genomes of numerous organisms of biomedical and commercial interest. Additionally, with the continuing acquisition of this remarkable base of biological data, high-throughput experimental tools will be required to assist in a practical and useful understanding of gene function.
Specific Instrumentation Goals
This solicitation was intended to stimulate research that tests the applicability of concepts unrelated to the standard instrumentation for gene sequencing. The emphasis is on basic science that will enable genomic studies in the next century, when genomic data will be widely available and the appetite for new data will be undiminished. Robust tools for using this information within new quantitative, mechanistic, and predictive biology will be paramount. Work supported within the redirected program will hasten the arrival of an epoch when ideas and experiments requiring genome-scale data are within the scope of investigator-initiated, hypothesis-driven science.[Charles G. Edmonds (301/903-0042, Fax: -0567, charles.edmonds@oer.doe.gov]
Note:
The solicitation was the topic of an editorial in the May 1 issue of Analytical Chemistry [70(9), 292A], in which Royce Murray (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) urged readers to think creatively about the role analytical chemists might play in fulfilling OBER goals.
For a complete description of DOE's genome instrumentation goals, see http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/ [Program Notice 98-16 and companion Notice LAB98-16 (may be listed under Closed Solicitation Notices)].
The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v9n3).
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.