Human Genome Sequencing Center
Encyclopedia
The Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome
Sequencing Center (BCM-HGSC) was established by Richard A. Gibbs in 1996 when BCM was chosen as one of six worldwide sites to complete the final phase of the International Human Genome Project
. Gibbs is the current director of the BCM-HGSC.
It occupies more than 36000 square feet (3,344.5 m²), employs over 200 staff, including eighteen faculty, and is one of three National Institutes of Health
funded genome centers that were involved in the completion of the first Human Genome Sequence in 2004. The BCM-HGSC contributed approximately 10 percent of the total project by sequencing Chromosomes 3, 12 and X. The BCM-HGSC collaborated with researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and Celera Genomics to sequence the first species of fruit fly
, Drosophila melanogaster
. The BCM-HGSC also completed the second species of fruit fly (Drosophila pseudoobscura
), the honeybee (Apis mellifera), and led an international consortium to sequence the Brown Norway rat.
The Human Genome Sequencing Center subsequently sequenced and annotated the genome of the cow (Bos taurus), the sea urchin
, Rhesus macaque, Tammar wallaby
, Dictyostelium discoideum, and a number of bacteria
that cause serious infection
s (Rickettsia typhi, Enterococcus faecium, Mannheimia Haemolytica, and Fusobacterium nucleatum). The BCM-HGSC was a major contributor to the "Mammalian Gene Collection" program, to sequence all human cDNAs, as well as the International Haplotype Mapping Project ("HapMap").
Other research within the BCM-HGSC includes new molecular technologies for mapping and sequencing, exploration of novel chemistries for DNA tagging, development of instrumentation for DNA
manipulation, building new computer programs for genomic data analysis, and studying the genes expressed in childhood leukemias, the genomic differences that lead to evolutionary changes, the role of host genetic variation in the course of infectious disease, and the molecular basis of specific genetic diseases. The sequencing for the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel
was performed here. The DGRP is a collaborative effort started by Trudy Mackay
to establish a common standard for Drosophila melanogaster
research. The HGSC has an active bioinformatics program, with research projects involving biologists and computer scientists. Problems under study focus on developing tools for generating, manipulating, and analyzing genome data.
Human genome
The human genome is the genome of Homo sapiens, which is stored on 23 chromosome pairs plus the small mitochondrial DNA. 22 of the 23 chromosomes are autosomal chromosome pairs, while the remaining pair is sex-determining...
Sequencing Center (BCM-HGSC) was established by Richard A. Gibbs in 1996 when BCM was chosen as one of six worldwide sites to complete the final phase of the International Human Genome Project
Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project is an international scientific research project with a primary goal of determining the sequence of chemical base pairs which make up DNA, and of identifying and mapping the approximately 20,000–25,000 genes of the human genome from both a physical and functional...
. Gibbs is the current director of the BCM-HGSC.
It occupies more than 36000 square feet (3,344.5 m²), employs over 200 staff, including eighteen faculty, and is one of three National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
funded genome centers that were involved in the completion of the first Human Genome Sequence in 2004. The BCM-HGSC contributed approximately 10 percent of the total project by sequencing Chromosomes 3, 12 and X. The BCM-HGSC collaborated with researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and Celera Genomics to sequence the first species of fruit fly
Drosophilidae
Drosophilidae is a diverse, cosmopolitan family of flies, which includes fruit flies. Another family of flies called Tephritidae also includes fruit flies. The best known species of Drosophilidae is Drosophila melanogaster, within the genus Drosophila, and this species Is used extensively for...
, Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...
. The BCM-HGSC also completed the second species of fruit fly (Drosophila pseudoobscura
Drosophila pseudoobscura
Drosophila pseudoobscura is a species of fruit fly, used extensively in lab studies of speciation.In 2005, D. pseudoobscura was the second Drosophila species to have its genome sequenced, after the model organism Drosophila melanogaster....
), the honeybee (Apis mellifera), and led an international consortium to sequence the Brown Norway rat.
The Human Genome Sequencing Center subsequently sequenced and annotated the genome of the cow (Bos taurus), the sea urchin
Sea urchin
Sea urchins or urchins are small, spiny, globular animals which, with their close kin, such as sand dollars, constitute the class Echinoidea of the echinoderm phylum. They inhabit all oceans. Their shell, or "test", is round and spiny, typically from across. Common colors include black and dull...
, Rhesus macaque, Tammar wallaby
Tammar Wallaby
The Tammar Wallaby , also known as the Dama Wallaby or Darma Wallaby, is a small member of the kangaroo family and is the model species for research on kangaroos and marsupials. It is found on offshore islands on the South Australian and Western Australian coast...
, Dictyostelium discoideum, and a number of bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
that cause serious infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
s (Rickettsia typhi, Enterococcus faecium, Mannheimia Haemolytica, and Fusobacterium nucleatum). The BCM-HGSC was a major contributor to the "Mammalian Gene Collection" program, to sequence all human cDNAs, as well as the International Haplotype Mapping Project ("HapMap").
Other research within the BCM-HGSC includes new molecular technologies for mapping and sequencing, exploration of novel chemistries for DNA tagging, development of instrumentation for DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
manipulation, building new computer programs for genomic data analysis, and studying the genes expressed in childhood leukemias, the genomic differences that lead to evolutionary changes, the role of host genetic variation in the course of infectious disease, and the molecular basis of specific genetic diseases. The sequencing for the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel
Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel
Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel is a suite of D. melanogaster lines derived from an out-crossed population in Raleigh, North Carolina. The founders of these lineages were collected from a Farmer's Market. The suite consists of 192 fully sequenced lines which have been inbred to homozygousity at...
was performed here. The DGRP is a collaborative effort started by Trudy Mackay
Trudy Mackay
Trudy Frances Charlene Mackay is a distinguished scientist, specializing in quantitative genetics,who was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 2006. She is presently at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh, North Carolina....
to establish a common standard for Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...
research. The HGSC has an active bioinformatics program, with research projects involving biologists and computer scientists. Problems under study focus on developing tools for generating, manipulating, and analyzing genome data.