The international consortium has successfully completed the pilot phase and is now accelerating the large-scale effort to sequence the human genome. The goal is to produce a working draft covering at least 90 percent of human genome sequence within one year, with completion expected by 2003.
Scientists identified a new gene called derrière that controls the formation of the posterior regions of the embryo, including the neural tube and muscles. Derrière plays a key role in inducing precursor tissues that will eventually form muscle, making it a potential target for regenerating muscle in wasting diseases.
The Whitehead Institute will build chip-based genome sequencing machines that can sequence 7 million DNA letters per day, reducing the cost of capital equipment by a factor of ten. The machines will be geared towards reading longer stretches of DNA, crucial for piece together overlapping fragments.
Researchers have found an RNA molecule capable of making a nucleotide building block, providing strong evidence for the RNA world view. This discovery supports the theory that in early evolution, RNA molecules carried out functions now considered to be the domains of DNA and proteins.
A new study by Whitehead researchers found that reduced DNA methylation may be responsible for decreased genomic stability and increased mutation rates in cancer cells. This could lead to a better understanding of the molecular origins of cancer.
Scientists at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research discovered a plant gene called EIR1 that plays a critical role in root growth towards the earth in response to gravity. The findings may lead to new strategies for enhancing food production, particularly in arid climates.
Scientists created a recombinant protein that fused heat shock proteins with ovalbumin, leading to immune response against ovalbumin-producing cancer cells. The technology could be used to develop vaccine candidates against infectious diseases like AIDS and stimulate CTL responses against cancer.
Scientists discovered 12 novel genes on the Y chromosome that enhance male fertility and are functionally interchangeable with X genes. The study also found that the Y chromosome evolved to preserve housekeeping functions, leading to new insights into Turner syndrome and male infertility.
Researchers have identified a key to targeting retroviruses to specific cells, paving the way for precise gene therapy delivery. The high-resolution structure of the virus's envelope protein reveals a precise pattern of ridges and valleys that determines cell accessibility.
A new study has uncovered the genetic wiring diagram underlying Candida's infectiousness, revealing two parallel genetic pathways that account for its ability to filament. Inactivating both pathways renders Candida harmless to macrophages and mice, offering new avenues for treating fungal infections.
Researchers have identified a crucial telomerase subunit, hEST2, expressed in primary human tumors but undetectable in normal tissues. This discovery paves the way for developing anti-telomerase drugs to target cancer cells and halt their immortal growth.
An international research group has located a new gene, NIDDM2, linked to type 2 diabetes in Finland. The gene is found in the same region as MODY3, a rare early-onset form of diabetes.
Research reveals that protein folding defects in the LDL receptor contribute to familial hypercholesterolemia by affecting calcium binding. This finding offers new hope for developing targeted therapies to enable proper protein folding and lower blood cholesterol levels.