Sequencing chromosome 7
From: Michael Ragland (ragland37_at_webtv.net)
Date: 06/23/04
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Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 16:06:45 +0000 (UTC)
Scientists map key chromosome
Sequence identifies genes linked to deafness and cancers
LONDON - Scientists announced Wednesday they have finished sequencing
human chromosome 7, which contains genes linked to hand and facial
development, cystic fibrosis, deafness, lymphoma and other cancers.
It is the sixth and largest chromosome to be sequenced so far and
contains 153 million letters of DNA and about 1,150 genes, including one
which may help to explain why cancer cells are resistant to some drugs,
and others that are involved in the body's immune response.
"This is another volume in the encyclopedia that is research ready.
There are a number of genes that are involved in human cancers that are
going to give us a good understanding of what goes on in the genomes of
people that have these types of cancer," said Dr. Richard Wilson, the
director of Washington University's Genome Sequencing Center in St
Louis.
"It gives us a leg up on designing new therapeutics that will help us
treat them," he added.
Scientists from several centers in the United States and Germany
completed the sequence which is reported in the latest edition of the
science journal Nature.
In addition to the gene for cystic fibrosis, chromosome 7 also contains
several genes for Williams-Beuren syndrome, a rare disorder that causes
unusual facial appearance and mild mental retardation.
"I think it will help us understand some of the genetic components of
head and face development. There are a number of genes for that. There
are also a number of genes involved in various types of white blood cell
cancers, lymphoma and leukemia," Wilson added.
The finished sequence, which is freely available on the Internet,
provides a treasure chest of information for scientists studying those
diseases.
It will allow scientists to look at people who have these diseases to
understand the underlying genetics and to develop treatments such as the
leukemia drug Glivec, which are aimed at gene products.
"If we can correlate other genes on chromosome 7 with some of these
lymphomas and leukemias it may be possible to design drugs that go right
after those types of (gene) products," Wilson added.
Each chromosome is made up of a molecule of DNA in the shape of a double
helix which is composed of four chemical bases represented by the
letters A (adenine), T (thymine), G (guanine) and C (cytosine). The
arrangement, or sequence, of the letters determines the cell's genetic
code.
Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited.
A professor asked a student, "If you had a choice between the oppressed
and the oppressor which would you choose." The student replied,
"Neither". The Professor shook his head and stated, "You don't have a
choice." The student paused and said, "The oppressed".
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