Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Science 20 September 2002:
Vol. 297. no. 5589, p. 1975
DOI: 10.1126/science.297.5589.1975a
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

ScienceScope

The cow jumped over the moon in a children's rhyme--and now it is jumping near the front of the line of organisms due to have their genomes sequenced. The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) last week announced that the cow, the dog, and a single-celled protozoan have joined 20 other "high priority" sequencing targets--including 15 species of fungi and the honey bee (Science, 5 October 2001, p. 82).

The three organisms were added to the pool after one of NHGRI's periodic polls of the scientific community. The cow was blessed thanks to its usefulness in understanding human endocrinology and reproductive health. The dog has long been used to study diseases such as cancer and epilepsy. And the ciliate Oxytricha trifallax contains single-gene chromosomes that could help reveal the elements needed for gene regulation.

Despite the boost, the three species probably won't be sequenced immediately, because NHGRI's three U.S. sequencing centers are already busy. But the push is on to expand the capacity of existing centers and launch new ones.

ADVERTISEMENT
Click Me!

ADVERTISEMENT
Click Me!

To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)