Genome Sequence Centre already at work on first major project
Vancouver - The Genome Sequence Centre at the BC Cancer Agency has received an initial $1.8 million (Cdn) to begin its role in the international effort to map and sequence the mouse genome. Preparing a sequence-ready map will determine the physical organization of the mouse's 21 chromosomes; sequencing will identify the order of the estimated three billion chemical bases or letters of the DNA. Mapping and sequencing are expected to be complete, in draft form, in three years.
The human genome project is nearing completion. A first draft is expected in the spring of 2000, with the finished version ready in 2003, possibly sooner. This project will generate much information and many questions about how to interpret that information.
"In order to fully understand the human genome, it is essential to compare it to that of another vertebrate," says Dr. Michael Smith, director of the Genome Sequence Centre. "The mouse is the experimental animal that is used most extensively in the studies of the genetics of disease, including cancer. Hence, it is essential to know the mouse's genome sequence in order to use its full potential in understanding human disease."
Ten laboratories, called the Mouse Genome Sequencing Network, collectively receives $21 million (US) for the first seven months of funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Additional funding will come to the BC Cancer Agency for the remainder of the project, through its collaboration with the Washington University Genome Sequencing Center, St. Louis. The GSC requested $4.6 million US over three years. This amount has been approved in principle, and will be awarded in installments contingent on good work and progress.
The Vancouver-based GSC is the only laboratory in the project to take on the preparation of a sequence-ready physical map of the mouse genome. Other laboratories are involved in genetic mapping.
The mouse project at the GSC is being led by Dr. Marco Marra, who joined the Centre earlier this year, after spending five years at the centre in St. Louis. There, he led similar projects in mapping the human genome, as well as the nematode worm and a model plant used genome research, a member of the mustard family.
"Our information will hasten completion of the mouse genome sequence by reducing vastly the potential for wasteful redundancy of sequencing effort," says Dr. Marra. "Various groups around the world will know what material is being sequenced in every other group participating in the effort, and will thus be able to avoid duplicating the sequence performed already by some other organization."
The function of the GSC is to generate a sequence-ready map of the mouse genome; the Washington University Center will carry out DNA sequencing. This information will be used by those in the network to organize and coordinate the international mouse genome sequencing effort.
Ten laboratories make up the Mouse Genome Sequencing Network:
For mapping the mouse genome:
- The Institute for Genomic Research, Rockville, MD
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City
For mapping and sequencing the mouse genome:
- Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO (working with the GSC)
For sequencing the mouse genome:
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- NIH Intramural Sequencing Center, Gaithersburg, MD
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
- Genome Therapeutics Corp., Waltham, MA
- University of Oklahoma, Norman.