Scientists have published the most detailed analysis to date of the human genome. They've discovered a far larger chunk of our genetic code is biologically active than previously thought. The researchers hope the findings will lead to a deeper understanding of numerous diseases, which could lead to better treatments.
More than 400 scientists in 32 laboratories in the UK, US, Spain, Singapore and Japan were involved. Their findings are published in 30 connected open-access papers appearing in three journals, Nature, Genome Biology and Genome Research. The Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (Encode) was launched in 2003 with the goal of identifying all the functional elements within the human genome.
A pilot project looking at 1% of the genome was published in 2007. Now the Encode project has analysed all three billion pairs of genetic code that make up our DNA. They have found 80% of our genome is performing a specific function.
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MRC HIU MRC MHU RDM
Congratulations to Prof Graham Ogg and Prof Paresh Vyas who have been named National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigators in recognition of their "outstanding contribution to clinical and applied health and social care research". This is a tremendous achievement as these are highly competitive and prestigious awards.
MRC HIU RDM
Congratulations to Prof Graham Ogg who has been awarded a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award to investigate aspects of the immune response in skin diseases such as eczema, with the hope of identifying new treatment options.
MRC MHU RDM
A new grant from the UK Academy of Medical Sciences will allow clinicians and scientists from Oxford, Sri Lanka and Thailand to establish new ties to support research into β thalassaemia and benefit those most affected.
MRC MHU
Congratulations to Dr James Davies and Dr Lynn Quek, who have both been awarded MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowships.
Department of Oncology MRC HIU
An international team of scientists has been shortlisted out of 134 applications spanning 41 countries.
Researchers from the MRC HIU are taking part in a knowledge transfer programme funded by the European Association for Cancer Research, to share innovative microscopy techniques with a Turkish researcher.