Geome update

[Guest guest]

March 30, 2000

(NYT Syndicate) - A far-flung network of computerized gene-readers has

deciphered the 2-billionth " letter " of humankind's DNA instruction manual,

the chief of the Human Genome Project said Wednesday as he announced a new

deadline of early June for the effort to be 90 percent complete. The publicly

funded effort is reading 1,000 genetic sequences per second as it nears the

goal of decoding all 3.2 billion chemical letters, known as base pairs, of

the human genetic blueprint by 2003, said Dr. Francis , director of

the National Human Genome Research Institute.

The genome is the complete set of 80,000 to 100,000 human genes - the

material composed of DNA, which contains the code for all inherited traits in

humans. Completion of the map is expected to provide insight into evolution

as well as jump-start new treatments and cures for a variety of diseases and

symptoms. " The genome project is in very good shape, " said at a

briefing before addressing the Bio2000 conference that has drawn more than

9,000 biotech officials and scientists to Boston. He said that the genome

project, by supplying the raw information that is to be translated into a

myriad of new drugs and medical tests, " is the feeder layer for this

wonderful industry. "

In ambition and complexity, the effort to read all the genetic code contained

in human cells rivals the Big Dig. But unlike that troubled transportation

project, the genome program, launched in 1990, is coming in ahead of schedule

and under budget. said the 90-percent-complete working draft of the

genome sequence will cost about $250 million. The project had expected to

have the working draft by spring; it will now be " late May or early June, "

said . He emphasized that the gene-reading robots in the United

States, England. and Japan are dumping their translation of the chemical code

into a public database every 24 hours.

" It's good news that we're moving so fast, but it's even better news that

researchers throughout the world are using this data now to investigate the

genetic underpinnings of health and diseases ranging from Alzheimer's to

diabetes, " said , who is a geneticist and co-discoverer of the gene

that causes cystic fibrosis. By contrast, a private genome company that is

also racing to finish sequencing the entire human genome is refusing to make

public its reading of the genetic blueprint until it is complete this year.

That's because the company, Celera Genomics of Rockville, Md., has developed

a plan under which subscribers (mainly pharmaceutical companies) pay a hefty

fee to access the data before it is made public. The companies will be able

to search for, and submit patent applications on, any gene sequences they

think may lead to profitable medical products or treatments. Celera's bid to

finish sequencing the genome is financed by hundreds of millions of dollars

of venture capital, and the company wants to recoup that investment.

said that the publicly funded project " takes very seriously the issue

of having this resource in the public domain, " which is why the robot

gene-readers at the 16 public genome centers are working as fast as possible

to churn out the sequence data. Once released publicly, the DNA sequence

itself can't be patented, but those who take the data and develop products

from it can patent those products. Already, a number of private companies

have found thousands of human genes within the genome independent of both the

genome project and Celera. They have filed for patent protection of those

genes, and hundreds of patents have been issued. said that while he

agrees that companies need the incentive of patent protection to carry out

the costly development of gene-based tests and drugs, they could slow the

pace of research.

called it a " serious issue " that could hamper experiments involving

the whole set of genes at once if many were protected by patents. " We want to

understand how all the genes work with each other in our " instruction book,'

" said. " You can understand how science could be impeded " if

researchers had to pay royalties to different patent-holders. The genome

project's chief also said that government scientists are creating databases

of free mathematical tools that will help researchers understand the genetic

sequences being poured into GenBank, the public databank for genome

information. The rival company, Celera, says that its strategy is to provide

such mathematical tools to its subscribers, for a price.

Asked to predict when the genome data might lead to health benefits,

forecast that within five to seven years, it may be possible to test an

individual early in life to reveal particular disease vulnerabilities over a

lifetime. But, he said, until treatments are developed, people may not want

to have this information. Biotech and pharmaceutical companies are mainly

interested in genome information as a tool to make new " designer drugs " that

take into account peoples' genetic differences. This way, doctors could

prescribe specific drugs for patients that would be more likely than today's

pharmaceuticals to be effective without harmful side effects.

predicted that such drugs are at least 15 years away.

=========

I wonder if there is a way to boycott Celera. It sounds like a purely greedy

company.

Kat