|
 |
 |
|
|
|
| Thursday, 27 October 2005 12:05 | | BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk
|
|
|
Scientists hope to develop personalised drug treatments for diseases after completing a map of the main differences in the human genome.
An international team mapped the entire genome of 296 people, identifying tiny differences in key parts of the DNA. The findings will make it easier to identify genetic variations linked to common diseases.
Humans are 99.9 per cent genetically identical, with the remaining genes accounting for the differences between individuals. Many of the differences are accounted for by single letter differences in DNA called single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of which there are around 10 million.
The “HapMap” study looked at people from Africa, the Far East western Europe and found some 300,000 SNPs which provided 90 per cent of the information gatherable from examining all 10 million.
The researchers say this will reduce the cost of genetic research 20 fold.
UK scientists have already identified a genetic defect that leads to impaired vision in the elderly, while other researchers are looking into data on conditions including diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cancer, schizophrenia, asthma, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Professor Peter Donnelly, of Oxford University, one of the lead authors of the research, told the BBC News website: "HapMap heralds a new era in medical research.
"This report describes a remarkable step in our journey to understand human biology and disease.
"The human genome sequence provided us with the list of many of the parts to make a human.
"The HapMap provides us with indicators - like Post-It notes - which we can focus on in looking for genes involved in common disease."
Dr Panos Deloukas, from the Sanger Institute in Cambridge, said: "It has been both fascinating and rewarding to be part of this collaborative enterprise that has already mapped one million SNPs and will shortly add another two million to the map."
But Dr Jim Wilson, of the Medical Research Council's Human Genetic Unit in Edinburgh, said there were some drawbacks to HapMap.
"How well does this relate to rare variations - which might be very important.
"And how well do these three populations who were studied match what happens in other populations.
|
|
| -
0 comments on this story
|
|
|
Home Top Disclaimer Site
Credits
Nursing Jobs | Just for Nurses | Nursing Agencies List | Charles Bloe Training
Nursing Portal | Nursing Events | Brutish Nursing | British Nursing Websites
Website Development and SEO Services
|
|
|
