For the first time two Californian companies, after analysing the entire sequence published so far on the human genome, have come up with a jumble of bases which make up our DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) into a meaningful inventory of genes, their locations and functions. "It's the first step towards turning raw genetic data into methods of diagnosing and treating disease," says John Couch, chairperson of DoubleTwist of Oakland, which has teamed up with Sun Microsystems of Palo Alto to do the work. "We have found 65,000 are looking closely at another 40,000 potential genes," says Nick Tsinoremas, director of research at DoubleTwist.
Officials of the Human Genome Project, meanwhile, say that the genome sequence is close to completion. The sequencing effort is now entering the straight, and should be complete by next month, the consortium said. So far, the researchers have assembled 85 per cent of a "working draft" of the genome ( New Scientist, Vol 166, No 2238).
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