X-Message-Number: 9963
From:  (Ken Stone)
Subject: Re: Chromosome DNA marker genes
Date: Thu, 02 Jul 1998 18:07:15 GMT
References: <>

>Hi, Everybody.
>
>How far has the human genome project progressed? Is there a gene
>database on the web? Any web sites on the HGP? 
>
>Can the HGP use robots to speed it up? Besides, comparing the data to
>the DBMS would speed up the identification/classification input-process. 
>
>I know they use plastic matrix trays consisting of columns and rows to
>speed up identifying gene bases. Can't a CCTV and robots using multiple
>syringes automate the input process? 

They've been doing mass robotic sequencing for several years now, but
the HGP just got kicked into high gear in the beginning of May. Craig 
Venter, founder of The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) announced a 
new joint venture with the Perkin Elmer Corp.  Perkin Elmer has developed 
a line of robots that are somewhere between 20 and 40 times faster
at sequencing than the robots of the previous generation, and the new 
company will have a whole stable (~50?) of these beasts working away 
full-time.  Until now, only about 3 percent of the Human Genome has
been sequenced; the new company plans to complete the job in 3 years.
See http://www.tigr.org/new/press_release_may98.html for more details.

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