U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson says federal researchers have created a working draft of the genetic information on three human chromosomes that could lead to improved treatments for genetically-linked diseases such as prostate and colorectal cancer, leukemia and hypertension. Chromosome 16, for example, contains about 98 million bases, and studies have implicated defective genes on this chromosome in the development of breast and prostate cancer, Crohn's disease, and adult polycystic kidney disease, which affects an estimated five million people worldwide. To date, the researchers have sequenced a working draft of the three chromosomes, leaving some scattered gaps in less gene-rich areas.
Researchers expect to produce the final sequence of the chromosomes over the next several years.
The information on the chromosomes is available free to researchers in academia and industry through the public database known as GenBank. The work by Energy Department researchers is part of an international research project that expects to complete a draft for the entire human genome in June, with a final sequence available on or before 2003. The chromosomes contain an estimated 10-15,000 genes, including those whose defects may lead to genetically linked diseases such as certain forms of kidney disease, prostate and colorectal cancer, leukemia, hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis. Scientists can already mine this treasure trove of information for the advances it may bring in our basic understanding of life as well as applications such as diagnosing, treating and eventually preventing disease. Of course, we are extremely pleased to have reached our draft milestone as part of that effort.