Navigation Links
'Dating agency' boosts hunt for disease genes

Doctors and scientists nationwide will today for the first time be able to join together over the internet to start the search for genes that underlie a range of chronic diseases.

Patients across Britain with cancer, heart and other common diseases have been providing blood samples for research since 2000. They are part of a project hosted by The University of Manchester that will allow more researchers than ever before to study genes in chronic diseases. The project - called the UK DNA Banking Network - was initiated in 1999 as a scientific infrastructure with government funding via the Medical Research Council.

"The infrastructure is already up and running for handling patient samples. Now what we've done is to create a sort of scientists' dating agency and shop," explains the Director of the Network's archive, Dr Martin Yuille (University of Manchester). "Vetted scientists can find on the website both data and materials about a disease. Then, they can 'date' a collaborator, design an experiment together and make an online wish list of patients' DNAs that they need."

The DNA Network provides web access by registered researchers to detailed summaries of data on patients whose anonymity is assured. The researchers hone their hypotheses in collaboration with the clinicians who are the custodians of the samples provided by patients. The new collaborators then request top quality research materials from the DNA Network's archive.

"The significance of this development is that it builds on the success of the Human Genome Project. This discovered all our genes - and revealed that biologists now need serious logistics for this type of research," says Dr Yuille. "The UK DNA Banking Network is leading the world in providing a sample and data infrastructure to tackle the challenge of uncovering the genetic pathways of complex disease."

Dr Kate Dixon, who manages the archive at the Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research (CIGMR
'"/>

Source:University of Manchester


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Combination therapy boosts effectiveness of telomere-directed cancer cell death
2. Crickets finicky mating behavior boosts biodiversity
3. Lance Armstrong through a physiological lens: hard training boosts muscle power 8%
4. Discovery of T-cell traffic control boosts new drug promise
5. Good news for the medical marijuana movement: pot proliferates brain cells and boosts mood
6. Just the expectation of a mirthful laughter experience boosts endorphins 27 percent, HGH 87 percent
7. Breastfeeding boosts mental health
8. A natural chemical found in strawberries boosts memory in healthy mice
9. Queen bee promiscuity boosts hive health
10. New technique boosts size of proteins that can be analyzed
11. Eating protein boosts hormone that staves off hunger
Post Your Comments: