Minding the genome gap HUGO conference opens with plea to
refocus efforts on differences, not disease genotypes By
Stephen Pincock
BERLIN-Roughly a year after the human genome sequence was
completed, scientists meeting at the opening of the Human
Genome Meeting on Sunday (April 4) were reminded about the
enormous gaps that remain in our understanding of our
genetic makeup.
"We have the sequence of 100 species or so a click away on
the Web. but how do we use that information? How can we
address the complexity of disease background at the DNA
level?" asked Leena Peltonen, from the University of
Helsinki in Finland. "We shouldn't be unrealistically
optimistic."
"We are still not sure what is the best way to understand
the function of the genome," Human Genome Organisation
(HUGO) President Yoshiyuki Sakaki told the opening session.
Maynard Olson from the University of Washington, added, "The
future of genomics is a really big topic."
Olson said that future may be in peril unless the scientific
establishment focuses on a fundamental aspect of human
genetics that has been overlooked: how the most obvious
differences among individuals-like hair color, height,
weight, and handedness-are generated.
"It's truly striking. how little we know about these obvious
questions that even a child would ask," Olson said. "Why
have geneticists ignored this question of why humans vary
from one another in these ways?" he asked. It has been
ignored partly because of the complexity of the issue, the
difficulty of getting funds for nonmedical research, and
"the long shadow of eugenics," Olson said. "Our obsessive
focus on disease genotypes is premature. My broader agenda
is essential for longer-term benefits."
"Its going to take all of our efforts. to develop the level
of trust with society that would make it acceptable to study
this subject that is essential to human genomics," Olson
said. Difficult as these ethical issues are, mainstream
science needs to focus on them, rather than leave it to
rogue elements, he said. "Are we prepared to bring to bear
the value systems of the science establishment to bear on
these questions or are we going to engage in a long
guerrilla war with fringe elements?" he asked.
Links for this article
T.M. Powledge, "Human Genome Project complete," The
Scientist, April 15, 2003.
biomedcentral.com03Open ↗
Human Genome Meeting, Berlin, April 4-7, 2004
hgm2004.hgu.mrc.ac.ukhgm2004.hgu.mrc.ac.ukOpen ↗
Leena Peltonen
hi.helsinki.fipalotie.htmlOpen ↗
Yoshiyuki Sakaki hgc.ims.u-hgc.ims.u-Open ↗
tokyo.ac.jp/organize/sakaki/members/sakaki/
Maynard Olson gs.washington.eduolson.htmOpen ↗
Quoted message said:From The Scientist.com
Comparing relatives
Developments in chimp and kangaroo genomics offer different
insights into human genetics By Stephen Pincock
BERLIN-A better understanding of the genetic makeup of our
closest and most distant mammalian relations is shedding new
light on the human genome, researchers told the Human Genome
Meeting here on Monday (April 5).
At the distant end of the spectrum, Australian researchers
want to begin large-scale sequencing of the kangaroo genome.
With about 180 million years of independent evolution
separating humans from the jumping marsupials, there are few
mammals that are more distant from us, and that offers
unique opportunities.
"The platypus is even more distantly related, and they're
going to be important too, but the platypus isn't your
normal experimental animal," Jenny Graves from the
Australian National University told The Scientist. For one
thing, she said, they are nearly impossible to breed in
captivity.
Focusing on the kangaroo as a good example of a remote
relative is "turning out to be a very effective way to spot
genes and control sequences," Graves told the conference.
Posted by Robert Karl Stonjek.