The time of the rat arrives

2001/03/06 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Genetika
• Medikuntza

Science has published that, once the sequencing of the human genome has ended, they are ready to face a new challenge: now it is the turn of the Norwegian brown rat. Two private associations from the United States and a study center have begun to jointly sequencing the rat genome and have already received government grant.

Driven by public and private partnerships, an initiative is also underway to sequence the mouse genome and hope to present this draft this year. The next limit has been set in 2005, by then they would like to have the sequence finished or at least without gaps.

According to the researchers, it is necessary to know the genome of the rat, since in the research work on physiology the rat is used more than the mouse and would have more data to understand the functioning of the rodent genes.

Francis Collins, one of the driving forces behind the initiative, says that knowing the genomes of the three most important mammals in biomedical research will be a major step forward in the genetics and physiology of human diseases.

The project of the rat genome has joined the scientists who previously competed, uniting the techniques of all. For example, the Houston Faculty of Medicine leads research and Celera Genomics and Genome Therapeutics put the force of their sequencer power at the service of the initiative.

Since both commercial groups are subject to a data freedom law established in December, they cannot use or patent data for private research before making them public. Undoubtedly, the transparency of the research will contribute agility and effectiveness to the project.