Genome backlash going full force

Article Abstract:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is sponsoring a major project to map and sequence all of the human chromosomes in the hopes of facilitating the ability to locate specific genes responsible for human disease manifestations. This project, called the Human Genome Project, will cost an estimated $3 billion to complete. Not everyone is excited about this effort, as evidenced by the more than 50 letters received by the President's science adviser, D. Allan Bromley, William Raub, the acting director of NIH, and various congressmen. These letters are part of a grass roots effort by several biologists who are concerned about the funding being poured into NIH for this project, and the depletion of funds available for the research of other scientists with noteworthy projects. They are also claiming concern over 'mediocre' science proficiency and policies associated with the Human Genome Project. One of the opponents, Martin Rechsteiner, a biochemist from the University of Utah School of Medicine, claims that the Genome Project isn't worth the money, and that gene mapping would continue without it. Rechsteiner and another scientist, Michael Syvanen, a bacterial geneticist at the University of California at Davis, are the authors of the opposition letters, which they plan to keep circulating in large quantities. Both have received responses from Elke Jordan, deputy director of the Center for Human Genome Research at NIH, who tried to address supposed inaccuracies in the arguments and the concerns raised in both letters. Neither Rechsteiner or Syvanen bought the counters offered by Jordan, and they will continue their efforts to voice the opinions of the 'large silent majority' of scientists, who supposedly are not in favor of the NIH project, or the implications which result from it. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Economic aspects, Political aspects, Science and technology policy, United States. National Institutes of Health, Biological research, Genetic research, Human genome

---

Disease and death in the New World

Article Abstract:

European explorers brought highly contagious diseases such as smallpox, measles, typhus and scarlet fever to the New World, to which Native Americans had never been exposed before. These new diseases proceeded to kill between 50 to 90 percent of the population. Native populations in many of the Caribbean islands were totally eliminated. There is disagreement among historians as to how many people lived in the Americas before Columbus landed in America in 1492, and when and how fast the diseases killed the population. One group, led by Henry F. Dobyns, believes that there were about 112 million people in the Americas and that the population was virtually wiped out by disease after 1492, before the Europeans could even count them. The group estimates that in North America there were approximately 18 million Native Americans in 1492 and fewer than 500,000 by 1900. Other groups agree that the devastating epidemics occurred, but that the original population before the arrival of Columbus was just two million. The written records that would resolve the differences are incomplete, and archaeologists, ethnohistorians, and anthropologists must use a variety of techniques to recreate what happened during that time. Data from the various sources, such as archeological excavations and historical documents, seem to lead to different conclusions, so questions about Native Americans before Columbus are left up to debate. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Research, History, Communicable diseases, North America, Native Americans, Native North Americans, Epidemics, Dobyns, Henry F.

---

NF's cancer connections

Article Abstract:

The identification of a gene which causes a human genetic disorder is always exciting; the molecular cloning of the gene which causes neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1), or von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis, is especially so. The gene seems to be quite remarkable as it is quite large and contains other smaller genes in its midst. Now, however, researchers have compared the sequence of the NF-1 gene with the sequences for 20,000 known proteins and have found great similarity to GAP, or the GTPase-activating protein. This substance seems to interact with the product of the ras gene, which may be involved with as many as one quarter of all human tumors. While no one knows precisely what GAP is doing, or for that matter what the NF-1 gene is doing, these genes seem to have a lot in common. Since GAP and NF-1 seem to have changed little through the course of evolution, it seems reasonable to speculate that their functions are critical to the normal performance of cellular duties. It appears that GAP, NF-1, and the protein IRA1 are members of a closely related class of regulatory proteins within cells. When these proteins are damaged by mutation, the cell can run amok. It is not yet known if NF-1 interacts with another protein the way that GAP interacts with ras, but researchers expect to have the answer within a couple of months. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Causes of, Genetic aspects, Cancer, Cancer genetics, Genetic disorders, Neurofibromatosis, editorial

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: On track. The right connections. Forward thrust
• Abstracts: Denying service. New-fashioned rations. Forever blue
• Abstracts: Sorting out cellphones. Connecting China. High finance, down and dirty
• Abstracts: Many gene changes found in cancer. A second breast cancer susceptibility gene found. Possible function found for breast cancer genes
• Abstracts: Molecular biology lies down with the lamb. Chronic fatigue as chameleon

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.