China to disclose genetic map in late August
( 2001-08-02 14:21 ) (8 )

Chinese scientists are going to announce late August their completed version of a genetic map of the No.3 human chromosome, part of the Human Genome Project.

The experts completed the map on the basis of their early draft work, with a coverage rate reaching 100 percent, with it formerly being 90 percent, and its' accuracy increasing to 99.99 percent from 90 percent previously.

The completed and improved map will lead to a revolution in disease diagnosis, new medicine and new kinds of therapy, the experts said.

The Human Genome Project was started in 1990 and attracted scientists from six countries, namely, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and China.

China was previously assigned to finish 1 percent of the work of sequencing the No.3 human chromosome, and later was given the additional task of sequencing the area surrounding the chromosome, or 1.13 percent of the whole Project.

The project reported on June 26, 2000 the completion of a "working draft" of the human genome, which contains an about 90 percent of human genetic sequence arranged in near perfect order on a genetic map.

China is the only developing country participating in the project. It now ranks fourth in the world in genome sequencing capability.