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September 2001
- Debates Scheduled for October 26–28
"Science, Knowledge, and Humanity" is a series of public
debates by well-known speakers about the future of human innovation
and progress. Topics will include such subjects as food biotechnology,
alternative medicine, the ethics of knowledge, the Kennewick Man Dispute,
genetically engineering people, and what it means to be human. [Full
program: www.instituteofideas.com/newyork.htm]
The series was organized by the London-based Institute of Ideas (www.instituteofideas.com)
and the New School University in New York City (www.newschool.edu).
Debates will begin on Friday evening and run through Sunday in the
Tishman Auditorium at New School University. [Further information
or ticket purchase: 212/229-5353 (U.S.), +44-20-7269-9229 (U.K.),
tonygilland@instituteofideas.com].
- Office of Science Lists Discoveries
For the past 25 years, DOE's Office of Science has been at the forefront
of scientific discoveries. A list of 101 of the most important, selected
by the agency's staff and colleagues and grouped by general disciplines,
is at www.sc.doe.gov/feature_articles_2001/June/Decades/index.html.
Entries include color pictures, histories, and descriptions of the discoveries;
their social impact; diagrams; references; links; and contact information.
August 2001
- Round VII, Sloan-DOE Postdoctoral Fellowships Announced
February 5, 2002, is the deadline for submitting applications for
the Sloan-DOE Postdoctoral Fellowships in Computational Molecular Biology/Bioinformatics.
These fellowships are designed to catalyze career transitions into computational
molecular biology from mathematics, physics, computer science, chemistry,
engineering, or other relevant fields. The purpose is to help scientists
develop the cross-disciplinary skills needed to exploit the exceptional
scientific potential of computational molecular biology and bioinformatics.
Awards will support up to 2 years of research work in an appropriate
molecular biology department or laboratory in the United States or Canada
selected by the applicant.
Up to 10 fellowships will be granted, and winners will be announced
by May 6, 2002. Applicants must be citizens or legal permanent residents
of the United States, with a Ph.D. earned within the past 5 years
or expected by June 2002.
Round VII: www.sloan.org/programs/scitech_postdoct.shtml.
Other fellowships: www.sloan.org/programs/.
- U.K. Marshall Scholarships, PostDocs Available
Up to 40 scholarships for study toward a degree at any British university
are awarded yearly to U.S. citizens who have received a first degree
in any discipline within the past 2 or 3 years. Applications must be
made through a regional center in the United States and are due in mid-October
of the year preceding tenure. Two postdoctoral fellowships will be awarded
in 2002 for U.S. scientists and engineers to undertake up to a year
of collaboratory research at British universities or research institutes.
Applications are due October 9. More information about both programs
is on the Web (http://www.acu.ac.uk/marshall/).
July 2001
- Latest Issue of Human Genome News Now Available
The July 2001 Human Genome News Vol. 11(3-4) is now available on the
HGN Web
site and in PDF
format.
- Rat Genome Database 2.0 Available
The latest version (2.0) of the Rat Genome
Database (RGD) is now available. The new version contains extensive
maps comparing the rat, mouse, and human. Large-scale sequence comparisons
of the three organisms' ESTs and cDNAs were combined with radiation
hybrid map locations to define similar regions and then extended by
the prediction of marker locations based on their known sites in another
species. Other modifications include nomenclature changes, improved
searching functions, additional FTP files, a genome scanner to automatically
select polymorphic SSLP markers, and a map display tool to generate
bin reports and gene locations when associated with an STS. RGD is funded
by a grant from NIH.
- Exploring DNA in the Classroom
With the support of the DOE Human Genome Program, the Biotechnology
Institute has published an interactive CD-ROM for 7th to 12th grade
classrooms. DNA and Genes Odyssey, which can be used on PC or
MAC, contains seven lectures, numerous animations, and an extensive
teacher’s guide and is accompanied by a short videotape. Lecture
topics are DNA and Genes Basics, Uniqueness and Inheritance, Human Genome
Program, Genetic Testing, Evolutionary Biology, Careers, and Predicting
the Future. Lecture overheads and teacher materials can be displayed
on screen or printed. [Contact: 800/796-5806, Jeff@BiotechInstitute.org;
www.BiotechInstitute.org]
- Cracking the Code
The spring issue of Your World magazine, Cracking the Code,
explores the impact of the Human Genome Project. Its publication coincided
with the release of a 2-hour television special titled "Cracking
the Code of Life," produced by NOVA
and WGBH-TV and broadcast on PBS stations starting April 17. Written
for 7th to 10th graders, Your World is the magazine of biotechnology
fundamentals and applications in healthcare, agriculture, the environment,
and industry. The publishers are preparing Cancer and Biotechnology
for the fall issue and Microbial Genomics for spring 2002. [Contact:
800/796-5806, Jeff@biotech.Institute.org;
www.BiotechInstitute.org]
June 2001
- July 1 Application Deadlines for two NIH-supported
resources
The Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) provides genotyping
for researchers who are mapping traits in 47 strains of inbred mice.
Approximately, 20 cM genomic screens are performed for investigators
who are granted access to the resource by a peer review group - the
CIDR Access Committee. Investigators using speed congenic strategies
are eligible to apply for the first two backcross generations. Please
see details, including instructions for applying at www.cidr.jhmi.edu.
The NIH has a program for sequencing BACs that contain regions of
high biomedical significance. Although originally targeted to C57BL/6J,
the program has been expanded to include BACs from other mouse strains
as well as other organisms. Please see details and a web-based application
procedure at http://mouse.info.nih.gov.
May 2001
- HGMIS Documents, Web Site Win Awards
The DOE
Microbial Genome Program Report produced by the Human Genome Management
Information System (HGMIS), won a number of awards in the 2000–2001
competitions sponsored by the Society for Technical Communication
(STC). In the East Tennessee Chapter contest, the report received
a Distinguished (first place) Award in Online Communications and two
Merit (third place) Awards, one in Technical Publications and the
other in Technical Art. In addition, the document was judged ETC's
Best of Show in Online Communications and went on to win another Distinguished
Award at the international level.
A HGMIS entry in the News and Trade Articles category, "Genes,
Dreams, and Reality: The Promises and Risks of the New Genetics"
by Denise Casey, won a Merit Award in Technical Publications. The
article appeared in the journal Judicature
83(3)
. For more information on HGMIS, go to www.ornl.gov/hgmis/mission.html.
- DOE proposes new Genomes to Life program
Building on the successes of the Human Genome Project, DOE has proposed
an ambitious 10-year program to achieve the most far-reaching of all
biological goals: a fundamental, comprehensive, and systematic understanding
of life. Called Genomes To Life,
the program would use DNA sequences from microbes and higher organisms
as well as advanced technological and computational resources to systematically
explore the essential processes of living systems. A booklet explaining
GTL is available on the Web
in .pdf and html formats and in print from HGMIS.
The Web site also contains the GTL goals and background, downloadable
graphics and Powerpoint presentations, and links to related sites.
- International Microbial Genomes Meeting
The Ninth Conference on Microbial Genomes will be held Oct. 28-Nov.
1 at the Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The conference
will emphasize studies (1) exploring genome sequence information to
understand various biological processes through experiments, and (2)
defining gene functions and regulatory networks. Sponsored by DOE,
the meeting will feature invited talks and contributed posters. Partial
support will be offered to a limited number of students, postdoctoral
associates, and junior faculty. For more information, see the Web
site or contact Kim Smith
(Oak Ridge National Laboratory).
March 2001
- Genome Celebration in June
Tbe People's Genome Celebration weekend will be held June 8-10 at
the Hyatt Regency Washington On Capitol Hill and the Smithsonian Institution
in conjunction with the Genetic Alliance's annual conference. The weekend
will celebrate the mapping of the human genome as a victory not just
for scientists but for all people. Through dynamic, timely speeches
and discussions, the event will spotlight the importance of genetics
for understanding and managing health and disease in the 21st century
and will open dialogue about critical and promising issues. [202/966-5557,
info@geneticalliance.org, www.geneticalliance.org]
- Youth Essay Contest
How is the sequencing of the human genome relevant to you? is
the subject of a youth essay contest sponsored by the Genetics Services
Branch of the Department of Health and Human Services' Maternal and
Child Health Bureau and several other organizations as part of the People's
Genome Celebration Meeting slated for June. The contest is open to students
in grades 7-12. Essays are to be 1,500 words. Deadline is April 30,
2001.
- National Science Foundation Workshop
The report of the National Science Foundation Workshop
on Quantitative Systems Biotechnology (QSB), held in September 2000,
is on the Web. QSB is defined as engineering research to augment the
prediction of a living organism's phenotypic behavior from genomic information
and environmental conditions. Workshop objectives were to suggest the
scope of a new QSB program solicitation and to examine the possibility
of conducting an international study in this area.
- Human Proteome Organisation Formed
The Human Proteome Organisation (HUPO) has been launched with the official
formation of a global advisory council composed of leading proteomics
researchers. HUPO's goals are to increase awareness of the Human Proteome
Project (HPP) and the importance of proteomics in the diagnosis, prognosis,
and therapy of disease; foster international cooperation; and promote
scientific research. Sponsored by Cambridge Healthtech Institute, HUPO's
inaugural meeting
will be held April 2-4 in Virginia for all individuals interested in
proteomics. At this meeting, the HPP will be discussed, detailed goals
and objectives of HUPO will be considered, and nominations will be sought
for a first president. Proteomics is the study of proteins in relation
to normal cell function and in the initiation of disease.
February 2001
- Researchers Identify Role of Key Breast Cancer Gene
Investigators from Berkeley Lab and the University of California,
San Francisco, have published an article focusing on the functional
characterization of the gene ZNF217 (Cancer Research 61, February
15, 2001). The gene is located in a region of chromosome 20 found to
have an increased copy number in many tumors, including 40% of breast
cancer cell lines. Experimental results support the hypothesis that
ZNF217 plays a role in breast cancer by allowing the cells to continue
growing and accumulating other changes necessary for malignant progression.
- ASM Report Suggests That Microbes May Slow Global Warming Global
Environmental Change: Microbial Contributions, Microbial Solutions,
a report from the American Society of Microbiology, can be downloaded
in .pdf format from the Web at www.asmusa.org/pasrc/pdfs/globalwarming.pdf.
The report suggests that microbial management might be used to slow
the adverse effects of greenhouse gases and other global environmental
shifts.
- Proceedings from the Challenges
and Impact of Human Genome Research for Minority Communities Conference
(presented by the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority National Educational Foundation
with funding support from the U.S. DOE Human Genome Program) have been
published on the Web.
- Publication of Initial Working Draft Sequence
The Feb. 16 issue of Science and Feb. 15 issue of Nature
contain the working draft of the human genome sequence. Nature
papers include initial analysis of the descriptions of the sequence
generated by the publicly sponsored Human Genome Project, while Science
publications focus on the draft sequence reported by the private company,
Celera Genomics. A press conference was held at 10 a.m. Monday, February
12 to discuss the landmark publications. Links for more information
are:
Science
Nature
Human
Genome Project and the Private Sector: A Working Partnership
Webcast of Today's HGP Press Conference
(Mon. Feb. 12, 2001)
Press
releases on First Analysis of Genome Sequence
For information about the next step in genomics at the Department of
Energy, see the Genomes to Life
homepage.
- Educational Kit on Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project has created a free multimedia kit as an educational
tool for high school students and the general public. Entitled The Human
Genome Project: Exploring our Molecular Selves, the kit includes a CD-ROM;
award-winning video documentary; commemorative wall poster; and an informational
brochure. To request a free copy or use the kit online after it is released
on February 12, go to www.nhgri.nih.gov/educationkit.
- The New Genetics Issues Two CD-ROMs
Two new groundbreaking CD-ROMs
use innovative multimedia and easy-navigation techniques to make the
genomic revolution understandable and accessible. More
information.
- In an in-depth conversation on "Inside
Genomics," Mina Bissell (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
LBNL) discusses her life, her research, and her views. Bissell is the
third Featured Scientist in a series of discussions with investigators
who are shaping the world of genomics and the life sciences. Interviews
with George Poste (SmithKline Beecham) and David Botstein (Stanford
University) are available through the Archives section at the same site.
January 2001
- Drosophila Researchers Win Prize
At its annual meeting in San Francisco on February 17, the American
Association for the Advancement of Science will present the prestigious
Newcomb Cleveland Prize to four researchers for their leading roles
in completing the sequence of the fruitfly.
More information.
- Patrinos Wins Gold Award On January 19
Secretary Richardson presented the Department of Energy's Gold Award
to Ari Patrinos, Associate Director for Biological and Environmental
Research. Patrinos was cited for his outstanding contributions to the
success of the Human Genome Project, his tireless skills as a negotiator,
and his exceptional stewardship of public funds entrusted to DOE. The
Gold Award is the highest award the secretary can give.
- Celera and Sandia Sign R&D Agreement
With the goal of achieving 100 trillion computer operations per second,
Sandia National Laboratories and Celera Genomics signed an agreement
on January 19 to develop next-generation software and hardware for computational
biology and a full range of life sciences applications. Compaq Computer
Corporation will provide project technology. See the press
release and the Washington Post article [URL no longer available].
- Charles DeLisi (Boston University), an administrator and researcher
in the Department of Energy in the mid-1980s, was one of 28 honorees
to whom President Clinton presented the Presidential Citizens Medal
on January 8. According to the award citation, DeLisi was the first
government scientist to conceive and outline the feasibility, goals,
and parameters of the Human Genome Project. More
information.
- "Human Genome Landmarks: Selected Traits and Disorders Mapped to Chromosomes"
is a colorful wall poster prepared by the DOE-supported Human
Genome Management Information System. Poster printing and mailing
costs are supported by QIAGEN. The educational poster depicts the 24
chromosomes in the human genome and lists many of the traits and disorders
associated with genes on specific chromosomes. Informative sidebars
explain in simple terms chromosomes, DNA, and genes, and provide URLs
for finding more detailed information on the Internet. An expanded version
of the poster
appears on this site.
- Conference on Intellectual Property and Related Socio-Legal Aspects
of HGP
A one-day conference on the Intellectual
Property and Related Socio-Legal Aspects of the Human Genome Project
will be held at Sheffield University in Edinburgh on April 23, 2001
as a satellite to HUGO's annual meeting. More information is available
online.
December 2000
- Arabidopsis Genome Completed
For the first time scientists have sequenced the complete genetic material
of a plant, that of the weed Arabidopsis thaliana. The international
Arabidipsis Genome Initiative consortium published the results
in the December 14 issue of Nature, and articles are available
free of charge on the web through Nature's Genome
Gateway. The popular model organism, related to broccoli and cauliflower,
was chosen for sequencing because of its rapid life cycle, small physical
size, and relatively small genome of 120Mb. Studies of some of Arabidopsis'
26,000 genes have illuminated areas of plant biology from photosynthesis
to development and evolution to cell biology.
- Latest Issue of Human Genome News Now Available
The November 2000 Human Genome News Vol. 11(1-2)is now available on
the HGN Web
site and in PDF
format.
- Scientists Decode Genes of Microbe That Thrives in Toxic Metals
Understanding the genetic makeup of microbes that thrive in polluted
environments may one day help scientists engineer bacteria that can
clean contaminants from soil. In a step toward that goal, the U.S. Department
of Energy's Joint Genome Institute (JGI) has just released the draft
gene sequence of one such toxin-tolerant bug. Known as Ralstonia
metallidurans, the bacterium is being deciphered by John Dunn and
Geoffrey Hind at Brookhaven National Laboratory in collaboration with
investigators in Belgium and others at JGI.
- Catalog's Eighth Edition Online
The eighth edition of Digamber Borgaonkar's Chromosomal Variation in
Man: A Catalog of Chromosomal Variants and Anomalies is available online
by subscription. The catalog,
which contains more than 20,000 entries, provides a means of reviewing
the world literature on all common and rare chromosomal alterations
and abnormalities.
- Hawkins Addresses Royal Institution
Trevor Hawkins, director of the DOE Joint Genome Institute, addressed
the Royal Institution of Great
Britain on November 23 in London. As part of the institution's "Scientists
for the New Century" lecture series, Hawkins spoke on Genes, Medicine,
and Society and DOE's role in the Human Genome Project. The audience
of 200 included members of the House of Lords and other parliamentary
offices, as well as representatives from academia, industry, and the
media.
- NIEHS to Study Genetic Basis of Disease
The National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences (NIEHS) announced on December 7 that it has established
a program to combine advances in human genome sequencing with the institute's
expertise in analyzing the effects on humans of toxic environmental
substances. As part of the program, researchers will determine how hundreds
or thousands of human genes respond and interact during different states
of health, disease, and challenges from toxicants.
November 2000
- International Consortium to Study Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Under a multimillion-dollar grant from NIH, 29 institutions in 8 nations
are participating in a consortium to help eradicate tuberculosis, the
world's leading infectious disease. Most of the institutions will work
to determine the shape of some 400 functional proteins from the disease-causing
Mycobacterium tuberculosis. For his contributions to the development
of computer software (SOLVE) that helps to discern the shapes of protein
molecules, Thomas Terwilliger, a primary consortium researcher at Los
Alamos National Laboratory, recently was elected a Fellow of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science.
- Entire Working Draft Sequence and Tools on Three Sites
Three Web sites display the entire working draft sequence of the
human genome and provide tools for its use. The following links will
take investigators directly to three different (but complementary) assembled
views of the human genome, together with useful browsing tools that
provide a wide variety of annotations of the sequence. These sites are
updated very frequently, indeed almost continually.
University of California at Santa Cruz
National Center
for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) - click "MapViewer"
European Bioinformatics Institute
(EBI)
- Joint Genome Institute Sequences 15 Organisms in One Month
During the month of October, high-quality draft sequences of 15 bacterial
genomes were produced at the U.S. Department of Energy's Joint Genome
Institute (JGI) in Walnut Creek, California—a rate of better than
one genome for every one and a half working days. In addition to their
value in basic research, many of the 15 bacteria whose draft sequences
were produced during JGI's first Microbial Month have immediate implications
for the economy and the environment. Among the sequenced organisms was
Xylella fastidiosa, for example, a pathogen carried by sharpshooter
insects that infects grapevines, citrus and almond trees, oleander bushes—which
are used as median strips on California highways—and other important
plants. More information.
- Dr. Trevor Hawkins Appointed Director of Joint Genome Institute
The three University of California laboratories that manage the Department
of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute (JGI), Los Alamos National Laboratory,
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, announced on November 3 the appointment of Dr. Trevor Hawkins
as Director of the JGI. Dr. Hawkins replaces Dr. Elbert Branscomb who
will assume a leadership of the newest project of the Office of Biological
and Environmental Research (OBER) “Bringing the Genome to Life: Energy
Related Biology in the New Genomic World.” More
information.
October 2000
- JGI to sequence pufferfish
In October, the JGI announced a collaborative agreement to sequence
the genome of Fugu rubripes or pufferfish, considered a great
delicacy in Japan. Although the Fugu genome contains essentially
the same number of genes and regulatory sequences as the human genome,
it has only 400 million bases in contrast to the 3-billion base human
genome. Data on Fugu genes and regulatory sequences should help
scientists identify similar sequences in human DNA.
Joining the JGI in the Fugu sequencing project are the Institute
for Molecular and Cell Biology (Chris Tan), the UK HGMP Resource Centre
(Greg Elgar), the Molecular Sciences Institute (Sydney Brenner), and
the Institute for Systems Biology (Leroy Hood). Researchers anticipate
having more than 95% of the Fugu genome sequence available by next
spring. More information.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) launches major
initiative
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute (NHLBI) launched a major initiative in September to advance
genomic research related to its health missions. The purpose of the
initial grants, which total $37 million, is to expand on HGP data and
technologies to identify genes relevant to heart, lung, blood, and sleep
functions. NHLBI supports free and immediate access to all data and
tools generated, as well as short-term advanced training and educational
programs on the use of such resources.
- National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) solicits comments
on draft report
A draft report on Ethical
and Policy Issues in International Research by the National Bioethics
Advisory Commission (NBAC) is available for public comments until November
13, 2000. The purpose of this report is to consider the ethical, legal,
and policy issues that arise when research that is subject to U.S. regulations
is sponsored or conducted in other countries. NBAC's goal is to identify
these issues and determine whether they are unique to international
settings and deserve particular attention from policymakers, and to
analyze national and international guidelines and statements to make
recommendations about possible ways to enhance international collaborative
research.
- DOE and NIH Team to Unlock Power of Proteins
Four U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites will be key contributors
to a new initiative launched by the National Institute of General Medical
Sciences (NIGMS) to determine the form and function of thousands of
proteins over the next decade. "These awards demonstrate the continued
importance of the physical sciences to life science research, and the
strong role the national laboratories play in providing expertise and
world class facilities in our quest to understand the structure and
function of genes," noted Dr. Mildred Dresselhaus, Director of
the DOE Office of Science. The initial phase of this initiative has
started with the awarding of seven new grants, each totaling around
$4 million for the first year. More
information.
- Public, Private Sector Join Forces in Mouse Sequencing Consortium
Results will spur discovery of human genes and their functions
Six NIH institutes, the Wellcome Trust philanthropy, and three private
companies announced a collaboration to speed up sequencing of the mouse
genome and produce a draft map by spring 2001. The Mouse Sequencing
Consortium (MSC) provides another example of the public and private
sectors joining forces to support large-scale genomics research that
generates freely available data sets crucial for basic biomedical research.
More
information.
- Encyclopedia of Ethical, Legal and Policy Issues in Biotechnology
Now Available
edited by Thomas Murray and Maxwell J. Mehlman
A comprehensive reference work on the ethical, legal, and policy
issues involved in biotechnology. The editorial team of Thomas Murray
and Maxwell Mehlman, bring together leading experts from a variety
of fields to describe the issues, analyze their implications, and
present public policy options. This publication includes a chapter
written by Dan Drell of the U.S. Department of Energy's Human Genome
Program Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues program.
Visit the website for
a detailed description, the Table of Contents and a sample article
on the "Human Enhancement Uses of Biotechnology" by Robert Wachbroit.
September 2000
- Fast Forward to 2020: What to Expect in Molecular Medicine
article now on web
The HGPI website announces a new article, Fast
Forward to 2020: What to Expect in Molecular Medicine, written
by Daniel Drell (U.S. Department of Energy) and Anne Adamson (Oak Ridge
National Laboratory). It speculates about how genetic advances sparked
by the Human Genome Project may affect the practice of medicine in the
next 20 years. This article was originally written for and will appear
in the online magazine TNTY
Futures.
- Teachers: Please respond to our short Educator
Survey so that we may better serve your needs.
-
Sequencing the Human Genome: New Frontiers
in Science and Technology
September 22 - 23, 2000. Live
webcast from the American Museum of Natural History. This is the
first major public forum since the release of the draft sequence to
examine the implications of the Human Genome Project for the next
century. Renowned scientists including two Nobel Prize winners, bioethicists,
biotechnology entrepreneurs, and others will participate in a mix
of lectures and panel discussions that explore the ramifications of
the Human Genome Project and address the social, economic, and ethical
impacts of advancing genetic technologies and their effect on our
understanding of natural history.
- The Department of Energy has announced a multimillion-dollar annual
program at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to develop a new
generation of biological instrumentation for accelerated proteomics
research. Proteomics is the study of protein function in living organims.
Located in Richland, Washington, PNNL also is expected to join the prestigious
Joint Genome Institute, which serves as DOE's central genomics research
arm. PNNL officials announced that they are presenting for DOE's consideration
a long-term plan for a major biological research program, including
a new research complex in Richland. See article
for more details.
- Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Website Seeks Evaluators
The producers of the CD-ROM, "Getting the Word Out on the Human
Genome Project: A Course for Physicians," are seeking people to
assist in the evaluation of a Website [URL no longer available] about
genes, genetic testing, the implications of testing, and current research.
See the site for more details.
- Next Wave Bioinformatics Issue. The weekly online publication
Next Wave is devoted
to training information and career advice for scientists. The September
1 bioinformatics issue features current and future employment trends,
U.S. and European funding, new bioinformatics degree programs, and hiring
needs of industrial and academic labs around the world. Experts and
role models present their points of view. [Free trial
issue; Career
Development Center for postdocs and junior faculty; Grants
Doctor]
August 2000
- Call for Proposals: DOE Microbial Genome Program www.sc.doe.gov/production/grants/FR00_18.html
Topic: Exploit already sequenced microbial genomes to address DOE's missions
in waste remediation, carbon management, energy production, and biotechnology.
Prospective applicants are urged to discuss projects with agency staff before
submitting proposale. - Preapplications due: October 2 - Applications due:
December 14. Contact: Daniel Drell (301/903-4742, Fax: -8521, Daniel.Drell@science.doe.gov)
July 2000
- Speakers at the May 2000 meeting on "Genes
and Society: Impact of New Technologies on Law, Medicine, and Policy"
can be heard on the Web. The 3-day conference, attended by more than 700 people
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, brought together physicians,
attorneys, healthcare professionals, ethicists, biomedical scientists, and
business leaders to explore the dramatic changes in genetics over the past
2 years.
June 2000
- PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST SURVEY OF THE
ENTIRE HUMAN GENOME
Hails Public and Private Efforts Leading to This Historic Achievement.
On June 26th, President Clinton, leaders of the Human Genome project (HGP)
and representatives of the biotechnology company Celera announced the completion
of a "working draft" reference DNA sequence of the human genome. The achievement
provides scientists worldwide with a road map to an estimated 90% of genes
on every chromosome. All HGP data are freely available on the Internet. Although
the draft contains gaps and errors, it provides a valuable scaffold for generating
a high-quality reference genome sequence -- the ultimate HGP goal expected
to be achieved by 2003 or sooner. The draft also reveals the location of most
human genes. Knowledge about genes will speed the understanding of how genetics
influences disease development, aid researchers looking for genes associated
with particular diseases, and contribute to the discovery of new treatments.
White House Statement, June 26th, 2000
- DNA & Justice: a media briefing cosponsored by the Gene Media Forum
on Tuesday, June 20th, 2000, 12 noon to 2:00 PM. Watch or listen to the web
cast at www.genemedia.org (instructions
can be found on that site). Visitors can also listen in through teleconferencing
using an 800 number (contact Erica Cerilli: 212/826-0256). Panelists include
Peter Neufeld of the Innocence Project; Calvin Johnson, who served 16 years
in prison for a rape and was exonerated when the Innocence Project used DNA
testing to prove his innocence; and Maurice Possley, a writer for the Chicago
Trubine who won the Polk award for writing about efforts in Illinois to free
wrongfully convicted people from prison.
May 2000
- International Rett Syndrome Association Announces Grants
The International Rett Syndrome Association announces the availability of
research funds through their grants program. Next deadline is July 15. Visit
their Website
for more details.
- Human Chromosome 21 Sequenced
The Chromosome 21 Mapping and Sequencing Consortium - a panel of 62 scientists
in Japan, Germany, France, Switzerland, the USA and Britain - has announced
that they have completed sequencing chromosome 21. The sequencing shows that
chromosome 21 encompasses more than 33 million base pairs of DNA. The chromosome
sequence reveals the organization of a number of genes linked to specific
human disorders and will speed the search for several more genes linked to
diseases such as Alzheimer’s and certain forms of cancer. The availability
of this sequence will also provide valuable tools for investigating the basis
of Down syndrome, which is caused by the inheritance of three (rather than
the normal two) copies of chromosome 21. See the Nature
Web site for more details.
April 2000
- Telomere Research Reveals Intriguing Paradox
Researchers at Los Alamos and Lawrence Berkeley national laboratories and
the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City have made surprising
new discoveries about a connection between DNA repair proteins and normal
maintenance activity occurring at chromosome tips called telomeres. The findings
may one day lead to new paths in cancer research. For more see website.
- U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program Completes Draft Sequence
of Chromosomes 5, 16, and 19
U.S. DOE HGP researchers have decoded in draft form the genetic information
on human chromosomes 5, 16 and 19. The chromosomes contain an estimated 10,000-15,000
genes, including those whose defects may lead to genetically linked diseases
such as certain forms of kidney disease, prostate and colorectal cancer, leukemia,
hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis. See also Media
page, press
release, backgrounder,
and images.
March 2000
- Fruit Fly's Genome Sequence Published in Science
Using a technique known as whole-genome shotgun sequencing, an international
collaboration of investigators has completed the genome of the largest organism
sequenced to date, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The work
is described in a series of articles in the March 24, 2000, issue of Science.
See also press release.
-
Attention Teachers, Students, and Parents: Join the Spring 2000
Cyber Surfari. Visit the CyberSurfari
Website for more details on how your
children can participate in an educational treasure hunt on the Internet.
February 2000
- Lots of information on small creatures:
- Preparing Schools for the Genetic Revolution--A national conference
on "Preparing Schools for the Genetic Revolution" will be held April 19–20
at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Sponsored in part by DOE's Human Genome
Program, the meeting will feature talks, papers, and workshops to consider
how the schools will be affected by the ethical, legal, and social implications
of the Human Genome Project (HGP). Nationally known speakers will address
the HGP's impact on administrative, programmatic, and curricular policy from
the perspectives of law, education, ethics, and genetics. [Contact: 402/472-2844,
Fax: -9688, acppl@unl.edu, Web
site).
January 2000
- ELSI Grants Announced
- GENES AND JUSTICE: The Growing Impact of the New Genetics on the Courts
--the November-December 1999 special genetics issue of Judicature,
the journal of the American Judicature Society is now available
online. Articles cover genes and behavior, gene therapy, gene testing,
DNA technology in the courtroom, jury reform, and other related topics.
December 1999
- Save the Dates May 10-12, for the Whitehead
Policy Symposium 2000 --Genes and Society: Impact of New Technologies
on Law, Medicine, and Policy. See also Human Genome News reports
from the last (April 1998) Whitehead Policy Symposium. A free CD-ROM from
this 1998 symposium containing meeting syllabus, plenary talk transcripts,
and web links is available from Gus Cervini
(617/258-0633).
- The Microbial Literacy Collaborative
Web site is a companion to the four-part documentary series Intimate Strangers:
Unseen Life on Earth, which was broadcast on public television in November.
In addition to stories and facts about microbes and reports on leadership
institutes, the expanded site describes a companion book and a telecourse
and video series. A downloadable collection, "MicrobeWorld Activities," includes
17 hands-on activities for exploring the microbial world. The microbial detective
Sam Sleuth helps middle school students, their teachers, and parents explore
the mysteries and wonders of microbes, keep up with science news, try experiments,
and consider science careers. Other portions of the site are tailored to professional
and lay audiences high school age and up.
- The 8th DOE Human Genome Program Contractor-Grantee Workshop will be held
February 27-March 2, 2000. At least one investigator from each funded project
is expected to attend the entire meeting and represent the project at poster
sessions. In order to plan the sessions and ensure adequate accommodations,
please send names of attendees from your laboratory to Leonora
Castro (Fax: 510/486-5717) not later than December 23, 1999. For
further information, see the workshop Web site.
- The NIH Secretary's Advisory Council on Genetic Testing (SACGT) is seeking
input from the public about oversight and other issues in genetic testing.
Persons interested in genetics and genetic testing can make comments through
the interactive Web site,
which also includes news, documents, and meeting highlights and announcements.
A public meeting is scheduled for January 27, 2000, in Baltimore, Maryland.
- First Human Chromosome Completely Sequenced! On December 1, researchers
in the Human Genome Project announced the complete sequencing of the DNA making
up human chromosome 22. Second smallest of the 24 human chromosomes,
chromosome 22 contains some 33.4 million DNA building blocks (the bases A,
C, T, and G).
The ultimate HGP goal is to generate the DNA sequence for all 3 billion
bases by 2003. Collaborators in the chromosome 22 sequencing project include
researchers from the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Sweden. Chromosome
22 contains genes implicated in leukemia, breast cancer, and mental retardation,
among others, and the sequence will be valuable to medical researchers exploring
new ways to diagnose and treat these and other disorders. The complete sequence
is also providing new insights into how the genome is organized and will
be valuable to researchers studying evolution and the relationships among
different species.
More details are available in the paper published in the December 2 issue
of Nature. See also press
release.
November 1999
-
A Billion Base Pair Celebration was held on November 23 at the National
Academy of Sciences to mark the completion and deposition into GenBank of
one billion base pairs of the human genome DNA sequence. Secretary of Energy
Bill Richardson spoke at the celebration, which honored hundreds of scientists
across the country and around the world whose commitment and ingenuity have
been so vital to reaching this milestone in the Human Genome Project. A
webcast of the event
is available and more about the celebration is at http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/archive/articles/billion1.html.
- New Projects
in Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues booklet published October 1999 is
now available online.
- Intimate Strangers: Unseen Life on Earth, a series of four 1-hour
television programs about the mysterious and vital world of microbes, opened
with "The Tree of Life"
on PBS on November 9. Three other episodes will premiere on November 16,
23, and 30 at 8 p.m. in most locations. "Keepers of the Biosphere," "Dangerous
Friends, Friendly Enemies," and "Creators of the Future" will explore the
fascinating role of the planet's tiniest organisms and their interactions
with humans. Funding for the series
was provided in part by the DOE Human Genome Program.
October 1999
- The 10th annual Genome Issue of Science
(October 15) focuses on "genome prospecting," the use of comparative genome
analyses to follow the course of evolutionary history from primordial mammals
to humans. Other articles discuss how migration patterns of ancient humans
can be reconstructed from traces left in the chromosomal sequences of modern-day
descendants, epigenetic mechanisms essential for gene function, improvements
in gene expression arrays and their use to categorize human cancers and to
support therapeutic decisions, data quality in genomics databases and new
bioinformatics directions, and the emerging discipline of pharmacogenomics.
The online issue is available to short-term and annual subscribers (www.sciencemag.org).
- The latest issue of Human Genome News, Vol. 10, No. 3-4, October
1999, is now available on the web by following this link at http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/publicat/hgn/v10n3/01oakintr.html
- NIH recently launched a Web site to inform the scientific community about
NIH-sponsored research on certain model organisms. "Model
Organisms for Biomedical Research" provides information about the mouse,
rat, yeast, round worm, fruit fly, zebrafish, and frog. It also links to major
resources and includes meeting reports and funding opportunities.
September 1999
- Alexander Hollaender Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Research Opportunities in Energy-Related Life, Biomedical, and Environmental
Sciences including Human and Microbial Genome and Global Change DEADLINE:
January 15, 2000
- Research in OBER-sponsored programs
- Tenable at various laboratories
- Stipends $37,500
- Doctoral degree received after April 30, 1998
- U.S. citizens or PRA eligible
Information and application: http://www.orau.gov/ober/hollaend.htm
or
Hollaender Postdoctoral Fellowships
Science and Engineering Education, MS 36
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
P. O. Box 117
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-0117
(423) 576-9975
Effective 10-1-99 the area code changes to 865.
E-mail: dorseyb@orau.gov
- Optical Technique Used to Map 3-Mb Genome of Radiation-Resistant Superbug
The completion of a whole-genome map for the bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans
was reported in the September 9 issue of Science
(requires subscription). The new map was constructed via an optical mapping
approach that uses fluorescence microscopy to view individual, elongated DNA
molecules cut by restriction enzymes. Advantages of this approach are that
it provides a useful picture of the basic organization of an entire genome,
and it eliminates the need for constructing large numbers of clones.
Understanding the genome of the bacterium D. radiodurans is of
great interest to scientists because of its ability to withstand radiation
exposure thousands of times greater than doses that are lethal to humans.
Scientists hope that the microbe will be useful in cleaning up toxic waste
sites contaminated with radiation, and that further explorations into this
organism's genome will offer clues to understanding its remarkable DNA-repair
systems. [For more information on optical mapping, see HGN
article vol. 7, no. 2, p. 1.]
August 1999
- ABC News presents “Why Not Clone a Human?” Thursday, Aug. 19 (10-11 p.m.
ET; Live chat: 11 p.m. ET) — Robert Krulwich talks with Princeton University’s
Lee Silver about cloning.
July 1999
- ELSI Retrospective on the Web
A comprehensive retrospective of research projects funded since 1990 by the
Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) component of the DOE Human
Genome Program is available in print and on the Web (www.ornl.gov/hgmis/elsi/elsi.html#products).
Written by DOE ELSI Program Manager Daniel Drell and Anne Adamson of HGMIS,
the retrospective discusses goals and provides such specifics as resource
availability, Web sites, and contacts. It is accompanied by a list of products
generated by DOE ELSI projects between 1990 and 1999. For a print copy, contact
HGMIS.
- Three New Laboratories Join Sequencing Partners
Following up on the March announcement that the Human Genome Project will
produce a working draft of the entire human genome by next spring, the NIH
National Human Genome Research Institute announced this month that two academic
laboratories and a commercial firm are joining the major sequencing effort.
These laboratories, newly funded by NIH, are located at the University of
Washington in Seattle, Stanford University, and Genome Therapeutics Corporation.
NIH earlier announced major funding grants for sequencing centers at Washington
University, St. Louis; MIT-Whitehead Institute; and Baylor College of Medicine.
Together, these six sequencing laboratories will produce about 60% of the
draft sequence.
The DOE-funded Joint Genome Institute and the Sanger Centre (U.K.) will generate
about 10% and 33%, respectively. Other countries contributing significant
amounts of human sequence are France (Genoscope in Paris), Germany (centers
in Jena, Braunschweig, and Berlin), and Japan (two centers in Tokyo). To avoid
duplication of work, each laboratory focuses on particular genomic regions
(http://www.gene.ucl.ac.uk/hugo/).
For more details on sites and progress, see Research site page (http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/research/centers.html)
and Human Genome Project Progress page (http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/project/progress.html)
June 1999
- HGP sequencing directors and scientists discuss project status, potential
impact, and outreach efforts. For transcript of chat event of 6/9/99,
see http://www.bio.com/chatevents/.
- Researchers close in on target to create the highly detailed genome map
critical to Human Genome Project success. Bacterial Artificial Chromosome
(BACs) clones are the preferred type of DNA material used for sequencing
the human genome. Maps made of the DNA sequences that occur at the ends of
BACs have themselves become extremely valuable tools for efficiently sequencing
the entire human genome. Follow progress of the BAC end-sequencing project
at http://www.ornl.gov/meetings/bacpac/index.html.
May 1999
- On June 9 (5 to 6 p.m., PDT), the BioOnline Web site (http://www.bio.com/)
will conduct an interactive forum on Human Genome Project expectations,
experiences, and progress. Forum participants include directors and
scientists from major institutions conducting HGP sequencing (Elbert
Branscomb, Robert Waterson, Brandon Loftus, and Gregory Mahairas). The
moderator is Randall Weden, science writer.
April 1999
- A new issue of the Gene Letter
is available online. The issue's theme is eugenics.
March 1999
January 1999
Previous News Items
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White
House Press Conference: The Human Genome Project, June 26, 2000