June 5, 2000. Copyright 2000. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

RACE TO DECIPHER HUMAN ÒBOOK OF LIFEÓ
By Elisabeth Ribbans

LONDON, June 5, Graphic News: WHEN the code for the human genome -- the alphabet of our DNA -- is not only known but deciphered, scientists may find among our 80,000-140,000 genes the one that governs competitiveness. If so, it will make future Craig Venters much easier to spot. 

Dr Venter, the head of private U.S. company Celera Genomics, burst into the chase for the human genome in 1998. By then, the international, publicly funded, Human Genome Project (HGP) had been toiling for eight years -- with a target date of 2005 for analysing the entire structure of DNA. Venter, a brash if brilliant biologist, said he would finish in 2001. The race was on.

Or rather, two races were on. HGP brought forward its deadline to 2003 but both projects began a scramble to be first to publish a Òrough draftÓ of the human genome. 

Every living organism has a genome, the special sequence in which four chemical bases -- adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine (abbreviated to the letters A, T, G and C) -- are repeated. The sequence decides whether we become an ant, a tulip or a human. In the case of humans, the string of letters runs to 3 billion and forms the DNA that sits in each of the 46 chromosomes in each of the bodyÕs 100 trillion cells.

The vast majority of our genome is debris, obsolete instructions for body parts, such as fins, that we no longer have. But scattered in the sequence are genes -- thousands of active combinations of three letters.

 Establishing the sequence, then finding and understanding the genes is a challenge that has been compared to putting the first man on the moon. It amounts to printing an instruction manual for human beings, an autobiography of Homo sapiens that also explains how we work and how we evolved.

When the book is completed, understanding it could help cure around 4,000 genetic diseases -- allowing drug companies to tailor drugs to individuals or groups. There are also fears that it will lead to Ôdesigner babiesÕ and genetic discrimination by insurance companies for example .

ThatÕs why the race to produce the masterplan is not only a race for glory -- although Nobel prizes may hang on it. It is also a contest of ideologies.

Venter, a one-time beach bum whose scientific career began in the medical corps during the Vietnam War, is contemptuous of the science establishment, accusing the HGP of wasting time and money. He wants to make a profit from CeleraÕs research by creating the definitive genome databank and charging for access to it. He also plans to patent genes.

The idea is abhorrant to the HGP scientists, working in more than 20 countries, who publish their data nightly on the internet. They are against capitalism taking control of the decoded human genome, a discovery acknowledged by even the most phlegmatic observers will revolutionise medicine in the 21st century.

They also query the quality of CeleraÕs draft, saying rapid methods may produce poorer results. Venter says they are Òjealous.Ó Soon, there may be a gene test to tell if he is right.
/ENDS
Sources: Human Genome Project, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S National Institute of Health