| ing Results will Spur Discovery of Human Genes | | | | are less than 50% identical. When comparing the |
| and Their Functions | | | | same DNA regions from human and mouse, |
| In October, a collaboration was announced to | | | | therefore, functional elements stand out clearly |
| speed up sequencing of the mouse genome and | | | | because of greater similarity. |
| produce a draft map by spring 2001. The Mouse | | | | Data from this project will be invaluable to us in |
| Sequencing Consortium (MSC) consists of six NIH | | | | annotating the final draft of the human genome, |
| institutes, the Wellcome Trust philanthropy, and | | | | observed researcher John McPherson (Washington |
| three private companies. It provides another | | | | University). It is exciting that we are moving |
| example of public and private sectors joining | | | | rapidly toward completion of both projects, he |
| forces to support large-scale genomics research | | | | said. |
| and generate freely available data crucial for basic | | | | Rapid Data Release |
| biomedical research. | | | | The consortium project focuses on the black six |
| MSC members and their contributions are | | | | (C57Black/6) mouse strain, which is different |
| SmithKline Beecham ($6.5 million), the Merck | | | | from the three strains being sequenced by Celera |
| Genome Research Institute ($6.5 million), | | | | Genomics. Celera's data are available by paid |
| Affymetrix, Inc. ($3.5 million), Wellcome Trust | | | | subscription. |
| ($7.75 million), and NIH ($34 million). Total funding | | | | The MSC data-release policy calls for raw data |
| of $58 million will support sequencing for 6 months | | | | (individual DNA sequence traces, about 500 bases |
| at three centers: Whitehead Institute (Cambridge), | | | | long) taken directly from automated instruments |
| Washington University (St. Louis), and the Sanger | | | | to be deposited in two public databases. These |
| Centre in the United Kingdom. | | | | are operated by the National Center for |
| Why the Mouse? | | | | Biotechnology Information and the European |
| With the working draft sequence of the human | | | | Bioinformatics Institute. Individual sequences will be |
| genome in hand, scientists in industry and | | | | assembled into larger units as soon as a working |
| academia now seek to interpret its meaning. The | | | | draft is obtained. |
| mouse genomic sequence is a powerful | | | | Sequencing Strategy |
| comparative tool because genes in the two | | | | MSC sequencing melds the best features of two |
| organisms are very similar. Understanding gene | | | | strategies used to produce a working draft of the |
| function in the mouse will accelerate knowledge | | | | human genome: the map-based shotgun method |
| about comparable human genes and will aid in | | | | used by the public Human Genome Project |
| understanding human disease and in developing | | | | consortium and the whole-genome shotgun |
| new treatments. | | | | system used by Celera. The overall depth of |
| On average, protein-coding regions in the mouse | | | | coverage for the mouse genome will be 2.5x to |
| and human genomes are 85% identical. These | | | | 3x, a level of detail useful to researchers; a |
| regions are evolutionarily conserved because they | | | | finished, highly accurate sequence is expected at |
| are required for biological functions shared by both | | | | a later date. |
| organisms. In contrast, noncoding genomic regions | | | | |