Genome can send what?

Looking for new ways to explore energy development and human disease occurrence principle genome can send what?

Http://www.thebeijingnews.com source: Beijing News

Genome sequencing work with moving liquid gun is very sophisticated.

Genome sequencing work using a large computer. In Shenzhen huada gene Research Institute, the reporter listened "million Microbial Genome program" Project Director-Chun-nan on the introduction of this scheme, a microbial invasion brain million, information processing difficult feelings, Chin nan on future prospects more journalists feel immediate flashing numerous flying, genome project does make our life is full of possibilities.

Prospect 1

Sequencing technology

For the "million" Microbial Genome program, one of the great questions of journalists is to count to ten thousand is a very difficult thing, why draw a ten thousand kinds of Microbial Genome map only need 3 years? Qin Nan said, thanks to advances in technology.

Genome-the next generation sequencing is a revolutionary advancement of the human life is immeasurable, but now the sequencing progress also very fast. "Following the IT industry, after the next world technology revolution is likely to come from the life sciences, now has begun!" Chin nan said.

"The human genome project" is in the late 1980s, complete spent 13 years, 30 million.

Now scientists doing the same thing, only need 3 months and 10 million. 10 years ago, huada gene has not yet begun the work of the human genome. In order to prove their abilities, they made a bacterial genome sequencing, spent over NT $ 1 million RMB. And now, genomics do microbial genome sequencing service, each charge RMB tens of thousands of dollars, plus the sequence analysis, time will not exceed one month. Now, to test a microbial genomes, the forefront of operations personnel as to the two men, one man operation instruments, analysis of data of a person — the two men can also do many microbial genome sequencing.

All benefit from the new generation of "sequencing instrument", it can replace the human interpretation of the Holy Scriptures genes.

Roughly speaking, sequencing instrument was first hundreds of gene interrupt into to thousands of base pairs of small fragments. Then sequencing and bioinformatics software for stitching them through the overlapping information determine mutual connection between them, and then restored to its original gene, is like a big piece of paper shredder, then shredded paper tiles. Therefore, the talisman of Genomics is the biotechnology and information technology. Chin nan on Genomics bioinformatics software is confident that it "has led the world in half a year or so."

Press to recall before in Shenzhen huada gene Research Institute seven floor corridor to see the scene.

There is no specimen of Zoology skyscrapers, there is no cloning laboratory under a microscope to concentrate on actions of the "masters", only the rows of the machine and computer. The only interesting human activity is wearing a white coat of researchers move the liquid gun used in the gene samples and reagents drops into a test tube, and put it into the instrument analysis. Chin nan said, they move the liquid gun used is very precise, accurate to 0.1 rose slightly. At the same time, because the harmful nature of reagents and for pollution prevention, researchers must wear rubber gloves.

Prospect 2

Panda brings new energy

Genome research prospects really "stimulation".

Take the "million Microbial Genome Project", through which we can find some information about the universal law of plague, we can design a universal plague vaccine, complete elimination of hazards to human plague; if found on moutai play a key role of microorganisms that may be the origin of the wine unlimited expansion (of course, the results may not be released, or will apply for a patent).

While other applications it is difficult to expect the average person.

Bottom of the crater some bacteria may be a further degree of survival, if these bacteria in the body's enzyme extracted from, the industrial production is very helpful. The Giant Panda has always been our "national treasure", but the study of microbial genomes may allow it to make a real contribution to us. Panda's digestive system has a group of organisms that can degrade the bamboo fiber, if you can copy this microbial environment, can help us plant fibre into sugar or alcohol, food and energy issues.

Chin nan that species gene is a strategic resource, as the 18, 19 century power among the fierce competition of mineral and other resources, now among States in the context of gene sequencing of intense competition for genetic resources, all want to other countries before as many species are gene sequencing and gene patents applied for, and subsequently to be very passive.

One of the most typical case is the soybean. Soybean originating in China, the United States succeeded in genetically modified soybean, we have a large number of United States imports of transgenic soybean, if you want to sort these varieties, we should pay for it.

Many foreign companies have come to our China collecting biological specimens, so our research staff is very urgent.

This is now launched the "million Microbial Genome program," one of the main reasons why.

Outlook 3

Determine the "disease genes"

Now, with Shenzhen huada gene research mainly genome sequencing work, or to compare frontier work, a high level from base pairs of DNA, found in and determine gene function.

Then,

How millions of base pairs found "gene"? Qin Nan said, there is now a gene prediction software, you can predict where the "meaningful" gene. In fact, human base pairs in 98% there is no clear function, and the bacteria base pairs of utilization is more than 90%. But this does not mean that 98% of human DNA is "rubbish", they may be useful, but we still don't know. So, how do you know which gene is what use? Qin Nan said, this is learned by biological experiments, sometimes can also be used comparative genomic approach to identify genes.

Now, with Shenzhen huada gene Research Institute to participate in "international Chin human genome" plan, has completed the first phase of its work.

Several thousand genes compared to microorganisms, currently known human gene has 3 000, is very much. It's a great mystery. Now, people already know about this 3 000 genes in a small part of the secret.

Genomics has now started and other units to study specific gene function.

Now, they have found 200 genes and diabetes. Chin nan said that may later be done a chip, to a hospital a little blood pumping, you know you have many genes so you have a tendency to diabetes.

Prospect 4

Possible breach of personal privacy

2012, "everyone genome" program will expand.

Then spend several thousand dollars in RMB, ordinary people can own genome sequencing. While the adults of the gene, also contains a lot of personal details of life. For example, "yanhuang No. 1" of the DNA providers love to smoke. Appropriate, sequencing shows that he's "gene l. smoke" stronger than most people. This could pose a problem, personal privacy, such as suffering from a disease of the inclination, it is possible to pass his genes and leaked out. If a person's genetic information compromised compromised, others may know his child's illness tendencies, which will give his life, such as job-seekers, have a negative impact on love and marriage. In fact, now some institutions "prenatal genetic testing" service, at the time of fetal 11 weeks can pass genetic diagnosis to determine whether the child is likely to suffer from hereditary diseases.

"Yan" event images still make you feel fresh, then the future can learn through gene and every detail of the human body, physical privacy gone? "gene is and the interaction between environment, through a person's genes may not be copied out of his face," Qin Nan said.

■ Featurette

The table above on gene

Shenzhen is a city of immigrants, the country's various flavors of the restaurant are very common, but rarely Guangdong cuisine.

In the Northeast restaurant for dinner, the reporters see oil "beans roasted barking Eggplant", then ask whether the Qin Nan said can find a kind of bacteria, so that the body cannot absorb fat to lose weight?

Chin nan said, get a lot of scientists put thin mouse stomach flora to fat rat stomach, after a while the latter is getting thinner.

His imagination, and later completely possible with gene technology to produce a kind of bacteria, who "live" gudong gudong strains to drink it, we will be able to lose weight.

At the dinner table, Qin Nan handed journalist a name card, printed "huada gene Research Institute" logo, the above are the four suit cards represent the four base pairs of DNA.

Chin nan said, DNA is like poker, although only "four color", but in the infinite, gene technology "only imagine, not to do."

New thematic interviews/reporter Liu Zheng

This special appreciated: Chin nan (Shenzhen huada gene Research Institute "million Microbial Genome program" Project Director)

This thematic pictures from Shenzhen huada gene Research Institute provides