‘The real genome project needs countries to share information’

Eric S Lander, one of the principal leaders of the Human Genome Project, a massive international research exercise that mapped the entire human genetic code in 2003, said on Wednesday that the “real genome project” is about studying huge samples of genomic data to identify disease genes.

While phenomenal technological advances have helped reduce the cost of genome sequencing by a million-fold over the last decade, allowing researchers to map thousands of human genomes, the future of genomic medicine depends on “sharing information” between organisations and countries — including India — said Prof Lander. In order for therapy to emerge from genetic research, “health systems around the world need to turn into learning systems” that share information, said Lander, delivering a lecture on ‘The Human Genome and Beyond: A 35 year Journey of Genomic Medicine’ as part of the three-city Cell Press-TNQ Distinguished Lectureship Series.

Lander envisaged a “DNA library” where genes can be cross-reference to detect “spelling differences” and disease genes. The goal before the scientific community now is to find targets for therapeutic intervention, he said to a packed auditorium comprising medical students. There is much to be learnt in the course of clinical care, said Lander who is the founding director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

While the “breathless hype” created around the Human Genome Project suggested that it would cure all disease in a couple of years, he said that much progress has indeed been made over the last decade with the discovery of several genes responsible for diabetes, schizophrenia and heart attacks.

Lander will be speaking next on Friday at JN Tata Auditorium in Bengaluru as part of the lectureship series.

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