MOUSE, HUMAN GENOMES SHARE SIMILARITIES

Main Menu | News By Date | News By Supplier | News By Category | About Us

MOUSE, HUMAN GENOMES SHARE SIMILARITIES
23 September 2005 - Case Western Reserve University

Although separated by 100 million years in evolution, humans and mice share many of the same genes, according to a new analysis. The comparison, which appeared in a recent issue of the journal Science, is co-authored by researchers from Celera Genomics of Rockville, Md., and geneticists from other institutions, including Joe Nadeau from CWRU's School of Medicine and University Hospitals of Cleveland.

The findings will play a crucial role in the study of human diseases using mice and can lead to a greater understanding of the interplay of genes in health and disease.

Although they mapped and compared the entire mouse genome with the human genome, the researchers publish only the results of their study of mouse chromosome 16. Chromosome 16 was chosen in part because of its relation to Down Syndrome which is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 in humans. Much of human chromosome 21 corresponds to mouse 16.

Looking for matches in the human genome, the researchers find large regions of mouse chromosome 16 remarkably conserved in the human genome. Of 731 protein-coding genes on the mouse chromosome, 70 percent are in the same order in the human genome. An example of one of these genes is the one that plays a central role in Alzheimer disease.

The percentage of genes that are unique to the mouse lineage, based on the findings of chromosome 16 (14 of 731 genes) is likely to be about two percent, according to the researchers. The similar gene sequence, genetic content and arrangement of genes validates the mouse as a model for many human diseases.

"The DNA sequence of the mouse genome, together with the differences in DNA sequence between mouse strains that Celera studied, will revolutionize mouse genetics. For the first time, we know the DNA sequence and genetic variation of a model organism for many human genetic diseases," said Nadeau, the James H. Jewell Professor in Genetics and co-director of the Center for Computational Genomics at CWRU. Nadeau assisted in the design of the study and in the analysis and interpretation of the mouse DNA sequence.

http://www.case.edu

About: Case Western Reserve University
The Case School of Engineering, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2005, has distinctive and acclaimed research programs, including biomedical engineering, functional polymers, fuel cells, advanced materials, microgravity fluid flow and combustion, biologically inspired robots, sensors and microfabrication. Research awards at the school have more than doubled since 2001 to nearly $60 million.

Case is among the nation's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826 and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western Reserve University, Case is distinguished by its strengths in education, research, service, and experiential learning. Located in Cleveland, Case offers nationally recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering, Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Sciences.

More News:
  • For September 2005
  • From Case Western Reserve University
  • For University