Research needs for human nutrition in the post-genome-sequencing era. (49/315)

The sequencing and annotation of the human genome and the genomes of other model organisms offer new tools and new opportunities for human nutrition research in the 21st century. Basic research continues to be the key foundation for formulating solid nutrition recommendations for the public, but the basis for establishing human nutrient recommendations today suffers because of lack of good biomarkers and because of weak federal funding for nutrition research. In the context of this post-human genome-sequencing era, tantalizing opportunity exists in seven areas-four basic and three applied: 1) identification of molecular biomarkers for nutrient status; 2) characterization of single polynuclear polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with nutrition; 3) development of a national genome array nutrition database; 4) use of models at all phylogenetic levels for nutrition research; 5) application of post-genome-sequencing tools to study diet and human health, including phytonutrients and genetically modified foods; 6) application of these tools to the role of nutrition in pathogenesis of human disease; and 7) development of a funding base for research on exercise and human health.  (+info)

Functional genomics, gene arrays, and the future of pathology. (50/315)

The human genome project has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years among the general public as well as the scientific community. Although it is likely to be a number of years before many of the expected benefits of the genomics revolution are realized, the impact of these scientific breakthroughs on diagnostic pathology is likely to become apparent relatively quickly. In particular, gene array technology, which allows gene expression measurements of thousands of genes in parallel, provides a powerful tool for pathologists seeking new markers for diagnosis. Several recent studies demonstrate how the gene array approach can not only recognize markers for known categories of neoplasia but also lead to recognition of different categories not previously appreciated. Although this approach shows great potential, the successful application of gene arrays to diagnostic problems will require thoughtful interpretation, just as immunochemical technologies require careful planning and analysis.  (+info)

Identification of disease genes by expression profiling. (51/315)

The human genome has been completely sequenced. The development of innovative methodologies and tools to understand the functions of human genes in health and disease will allow the data of the human genome project to be utilized. This paper reviews methods that can be used to detect and isolate genes that are specifically expressed in certain diseases or that are specific to cell types. First, classical methods, such as differential screening of complementary deoxyribonucleic acid libraries and subtractive techniques, are described. Methods based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), such as differential display PCR or serial analysis of gene expression, will then be discussed. Finally, recent developments in gene chip technology and basic principles of functional genomics will be illustrated. Future developments will link the results of genomic approaches to data obtained by other systematic methods, such as proteomics (i.e. the systematic, large scale analysis of proteins), and will allow the production of a detailed molecular characterization of diseases, disease stages, tissues, or cell types. Methods to detect disease or cell type-specific gene expression patterns will play an important role in the future of basic research, as well as the development of novel diagnostic procedures and identification of therapeutic targets.  (+info)

Fruits of human genome project and private venture, and their impact on life science. (52/315)

A small knowledge base was created by organizing the Human Genome Project (HGP) and its related issues in "Science" magazines between 1996 and 2000. This base revealed the stunning achievement of HGP and a private venture and its impact on today's biology and life science. In the mid-1990, they encouraged the development of advanced high throughput automated DNA sequencers and the technologies that can analyse all genes at once in a systematic fashion. Using these technologies, they completed the genome sequence of human and various other organisms. These fruits opened the door to comparative genomics, functional genomics, the interdisprinary field between computer and biology, and proteomics. They have caused a shift in biological investigation from studying single genes or proteins to studying all genes or proteins at once, and causing revolutional changes in traditional biology, drug discovery and therapy. They have expanded the range of potential drug targets and have facilitated a shift in drug discovery programs toward rational target-based strategies. They have spawned pharmacogenomics that could give rise to a new generation of highly effective drugs that treat causes, not just symptoms. They should also cause a migration from the traditional medications that are safe and effective for every members of the population to personalized medicine and personalized therapy.  (+info)

Expanding the boundaries: enhancing dentistry's contribution to overall health and well-being of children. (53/315)

The Surgeon General's Report, Oral Health in America, is the first comprehensive assessment of oral, dental, and craniofacial health in the history of our nation. The intent of this report is to alert all Americans to the full meaning of oral health and its importance to general health and well-being across the life span. Moreover, the report has been released at a time of enormous changes in human history as well as opportunities. The convergence of public health policies, "quality of life" expectations, global informatics, a new century of biotechnology, the advent of nanotechnology, the completion of the human genome project, changes in the management of health care, and the acknowledgment of enormous health disparities heralds a call to action. These changes affect children and their caregivers and the elderly. They also affect the social, economic, and health issues associated with special patients, including those with developmental disabilities. This paper highlights dentistry's future and how oral health is broadening the impact on patient and community health and dental practice, with a focus on children's oral health. The paper provides recommendations and suggests a call to action.  (+info)

African-American heredity prostate cancer study: a model for genetic research. (54/315)

A genome-wide scan of high-risk prostate cancer families in North America has demonstrated linkage of a particular marker to Chromosome Iq (HPC11. An even greater proportion of African-American families have shown linkage to HPC 1. Therefore, investigators at the National Human Genome Research Institute [NHGRI] in collaboration with Howard University and a predominantly African-American group of urologists established the African-American Hereditary Prostate Cancer (AAHPC) Study Network to confirm the suggested linkage of HPC in African Americans with a gene on Chromosome 1. Blood samples from recruited families were sent to Howard University for extraction of DNA. The DNA was sent to NHGRI at NIH where the genotyping and genetic sequence analysis was conducted. Genotype data are merged with pedigree information so that statistical analysis can be performed to establish potential linkage. From March 1, 1998, to June 1, 1999, a total of 40 African-American families have been recruited who met the study criteria. Preliminary results suggest that racial/ethnicity grouping may affect the incidence and extent of linkage of prostate cancer to specific loci. The importance of these findings lays in the future treatment of genetic-based diseases.  (+info)

A compact view of isochores in the draft human genome sequence. (55/315)

Prior to genome sequencing, information on base composition (GC level) and its variation in mammalian genomes could be obtained using density gradient ultracentrifugation. Analyses using this approach led to the conclusion that mammalian genomes are organized into mosaics of fairly homogeneous regions, called isochores. We present an initial compositional overview of the chromosomes of the recently available draft human genome sequence, in the form of color-coded moving window plots and corresponding GC level histograms. Results obtained from the draft human genome sequence agree well with those obtained or deduced earlier from CsCl experiments. The draft sequence now permits the visualization of the mosaic organization of the human genome at the DNA sequence level.  (+info)

ZTR: a new format for DNA sequence trace data. (56/315)

MOTIVATION: To produce an open and extensible file format for DNA trace data which produces compact files suitable for large-scale storage and efficient use of internet bandwidth. RESULTS: We have created an extensible format named ZTR. For a set of data taken from an ABI-3700 the ZTR format produces trace files which require 61.6% of the disk space used by gzipped SCFv3, and which can be written and read at greater speed. The compression algorithms used for the trace amplitudes are used within the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) trace archive. lmb.cam.ac.uk/pub/staden/io_lib/test_data.  (+info)