Variations in the Genome
When a gene is read, the language of the gene (DNA) is
transcribed into a different language (RNA) and subsequently translated into
amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Proteins are gene products and
absolutely vital for building and maintaining an organism. When RNA is read
backwards, the resulting product is a DNA strand, complementary to the RNA.
These so-called cDNAs allow scientists to draw conclusions about the respective
gene sequences. Furthermore, it is possible to detect single changes in the
gene sequence, referred to as SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). Applying
this technique, the scientists constructed the first cDNA based SNP map for the
rat,available to the scientific community via the ENSEMBL online database.
According to the scientists, this map is a prerequisite for systematically
screening the genome for functional variants.
*A SNP Map of the Rat GenomeGenerated
from cDNA Sequences
Heike Zimdahl1, Gerald Nyakatura2,
Petra Brandt2, Herbert Schulz1, Oliver Hummel1,3,
Berthold Fartmann2, David Brett2, Marcus Droege2,
Jan Monti1, Young-Ae Lee1, Yinyan Sun1,3,
Shaying Zhao4, Eitan Winter5, Chris Ponting5,
Yuan Chen6, Arek Kasprzyk6, Ewan Birney6,
Detlev Ganten1, Norbert Hubner1
Science, Vol. 303, 6. Februar 2004, p.807
1Max-Delbrück-Center for
Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin-Buch, Germany
2MWG-Biotech, Anzinger Str. 7a,
85560 Ebersberg, Germany
3Max-Planck-Institute for
Molecular Genetics, Ihnestr. 73, 14195 Berlin, Germany
4The Institute for Genomic
Research, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA
5MRC Functional Genetics Unit, University
of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, United Kingdom
6EMBL, European Bioinformatics
Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, United Kingdom
Barbara Bachtler
Press and Public Affairs
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch
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