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Release No. 0420.03

USDA, Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623

Genome Canada, Anie Perrault (613) 296-7292

NHGRI, Rebecca Kolberg (301) 594-2134

VENEMAN ANNOUNCES BOVINE GENOME SEQUENCING PROJECT

*NIH To Lead International Effort*

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2003 --Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today
announced the launch of the \$53 million Bovine Genome Sequencing
Project during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

> This joint sequencing effort is a collaboration among the National
> Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), which is part of the National
> Institutes of Health (NIH); USDA; the state of Texas; Genome Canada;
> The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of
> Australia; and Agritech Investments Ltd (a subsidiary of Meat New
> Zealand), Dairy Insight Inc. and AgResearch Ltd, all of New Zealand.

"This project is an excellent example of what can happen through
public/private partnerships," said Veneman. "Sequencing the bovine
genome is a vital first step that will lay the groundwork for
breakthroughs that will benefit both human health and agriculture.
Eliminating hunger, improving nutrition and reducing agriculture's
impact on the environment are all potential outcomes of this research."

Contributors to the Bovine Genome Sequencing Project include: NHGRI,
\$25 million; USDA, \$11 million; the state of Texas, \$10 million;
Genome Canada, \$5 million; The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organization of Australia, \$1 million and Agritech Investments
Ltd., Dairy Insight Inc. and AgResearch Ltd., all of New Zealand, \$1
million.

Attending the event were Dr. Joseph J. Jen, agriculture undersecretary
for Research, Education and Economics; Dr. Francis Collins, director of
NHGRI; Kathie L. Olsen, associate director, White House Office of
Science and Technology Policy; Dr. Martin Godbout, president and CEO of
Genome Canada and representatives from the state of Texas, Australia,
and New Zealand.

> "The National Human Genome Research Institute is gratified that the
> U.S. federal government, state government and international agencies
> have joined together to support this important project. This unique
> collaboration will have benefits for both the world's health and the
> world's food supply," said Dr. Collins.
>
> -more-
>
> -2-

The bovine genome is similar in size to the genomes of humans and other
mammals, with an estimated size of 3 billion base pairs. Besides its
potential for improving dairy and meat products and enhancing food
safety, adding the genomic sequence of the cow (*Bos taurus*) to the
growing list of sequenced animal genomes will help researchers learn
more about the human genome. The genomic DNA sequencing activities will
be carried out by Baylor College of Medicine's Human Genome Sequencing
Center in Houston, while the full-length cDNA sequencing (the sequencing
of genes) will be carried out at the sequencing platform of Genome
British Columbia, located at the British Columbia Cancer Agency in
Vancouver and at the University of Alberta.

"The recent occurrence of "*Mad Cow Disease*," involving a single cow in
Canada, demonstrated quite clearly how deeply an economy can be affected
by a problem in the cattle industry and how crucial it is to avoid
another situation like this one," said Dr. Martin Godbout, president &
CEO of Genome Canada. "It is important for the international community
to invest in fundamental science that will help us all overcome the
challenges of this industry. Research in this field is imperative and
Genome Canada is extremely proud to be a partner in this important
project and very enthusiastic it has now been launched."

Genome Canada is the primary funding and information resource relating
to genomics and proteomics in Canada. To date, Genome Canada has
invested more than \$310 million across Canada. With funding from other
partners, this amounts to an investment of \$710 million in 57
innovative genomics and proteomics research projects and science and
technology platforms.

NHGRI is one of the 27 institutes and centers at NIH, an agency of the
Department of Health and Human Services. Additional information about
NHGRI can be found at [htpp://www.genome.gov](http://www.genome.gov/).

Editors' Note: NHGRI has a photo of the type of cow that is being
sequenced available at <http://www.genome.gov/10506722>.

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