News Release
Archive - New Contact Information
Monday, October 23, 2006, 12:00 p.m. EDT
(919) 541-0073
Will Help Discover Why Some People Are Susceptible to Certain Diseases
Researchers have successfully sequenced the DNA of 15 mouse strains most commonly used in biomedical research. More than 8.3 million genetic variations, or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), were discovered among the genomes of the 15 mouse strains, and the data are now available on a public website. These new data on laboratory mice will help researchers better understand what makes some individuals more susceptible than others to certain diseases, and will serve as a valuable resource as researchers determine the role that various environmental substances may play in the development of disease.
The "Re-sequencing and SNP Discovery Project" led by the National Institute ofEnvironmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, and itsNational Toxicology Program, began less than two years ago with a $13 million budget. The work was completed by Perlegen Sciences, Inc. and the data are available on the National Center for Biotechnology Information website at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/SNP/ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/SNP/) .
| WHO: |
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| WHAT: | Teleconference with NIEHS Director and leading scientific experts |
| WHEN: | Wednesday, October 25, 1:00 p.m. EDT |
| WHERE: | Teleconference call. Reporters to dial in call: 877-707-9631 International Reporters, call 785-832-0301 Password: NIEHS |
Reporters please call Robin Mackar, 919-541-0073, to reserve your phone line or for further assistance.
About the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS): NIEHS supports research to understand the effects of the environment on human health and is part of the National Institutes of Health. For more information on NIEHS or environmental health topics, visit www.niehs.nih.gov or subscribe to a news list.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®
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