Prime Time Replay:
Dr. Lee Hood
on the Human Genome Project
MsgId: *breakthrough(12)
Date: Wed Dec 18 20:40:40 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Hi, this is Madeleine Lebwohl, and tonight I'll be speaking with Dr. Leroy Hood, director of the Center for Molecular Biotechnology, in an in-studio interview. Good evening, Dr. Hood.
MsgId: *breakthrough(18)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:01:52 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Dr. Hood: Hello, nice to be here.
MsgId: *breakthrough(20)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:03:21 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Dr. Hood, I was hoping we could talk tonight about your work on the Human Genome Project. Could we begin with some of the exciting new developments your center is working on?
MsgId: *breakthrough(21)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:04:35 EST 1996
From: guest At: 38.11.35.207
Are you planning to create manmade human beings or other creatures?
MsgId: *breakthrough(22)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:04:53 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
D.H: Our center is developing new DNA sequencing technologies. One new technology that we are working on with SAIC, a company that specializes in high technology, is the application of Japanese robots used for constructing computer chips.
MsgId: *breakthrough(23)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:05:59 EST 1996
From: guest At: 207.31.124.48
The Robots will do some of the lab work?
MsgId: *breakthrough(24)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:06:26 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
(con't) to large scale DNA sequencing. For example, one of these robots has the capacity to keep 50 DNA sequencing machines busy. A second technology that we are developing is a completely new approach to sequencing the human genome.
MsgId: *breakthrough(25)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:07:24 EST 1996
From: guest At: 38.11.35.207
Will DNA sequencing make human sexuality obsolete?
MsgId: *breakthrough(26)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:08:26 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
This approach centers about a strategy that eliminates a very complex process called physical mapping. This strategy lets us do two important things. First, it is a strategy that can be completely automated using the robots I just discussed, second, this is a strategy that gives us virtual, instantaneous access to any part of the human genome, through clones of DNA that can be sequenced.
MsgId: *breakthrough(27)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:08:37 EST 1996
From: guest At: 206.183.79.95
Hello how is everybody tonight?
MsgId: *breakthrough(28)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:09:02 EST 1996
From: guest At: 206.183.79.95
MsgId: *breakthrough(29)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:09:03 EST 1996
From: guest At: 207.31.124.48
How long to you estimate it will take to sequence the human genome with the new approach?
MsgId: *breakthrough(30)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:09:16 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
These two new technologies should ,within the next 2 years, allow us to sequence perhaps 5 times as rapidly as we can today.
MsgId: *breakthrough(31)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:10:03 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Dr. Hood, where do you think all this additional information is taking us?
MsgId: *breakthrough(32)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:11:05 EST 1996
From: guest At: 207.31.124.48
Whose genes do you use? Since everyone has a unique set of genes.
MsgId: *breakthrough(33)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:11:15 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
The ability to sequence DNA with increased throughput will allow us to sequence many other genomes in addition to the human genome. Important other genomes we will sequence will include the mouse genome, because a great deal of genetics has been done on mice as a model system.
MsgId: *breakthrough(34)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:11:37 EST 1996
From: guest At: 38.11.35.207
Isn't it kind of immoral to create artificial life?
MsgId: *breakthrough(35)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:13:17 EST 1996
From: guest At: 207.31.124.48
After the genome is mapped will the next focus be to identify the function of as many individual genes as possible?
MsgId: *breakthrough(36)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:14:02 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
In addition, many groups are beginning to sequence microbial genomes to discover how to deal with pathogenic organisms, or how to use microbes to improve our environment. For example, eating oil spills. Another area that large scale DNA sequencing will allow us to explore, is the variation that occurs between different genomes. These variations, called polymorphisms, are the reason human vary among the species. This variation makes some people tall, and some people short, this variation also makes some people susceptible to certain diseases, thus studying human polymorphisms will be one way to revolutionize medicine as we move into the 21 century.
MsgId: *breakthrough(37)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:14:42 EST 1996
From: guest At: 207.31.124.48
What is the URL for human genome projects?
MsgId: *breakthrough(38)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:15:05 EST 1996
From: guest At: 38.11.35.207
What if this technology falls into the wrong hands?
MsgId: *breakthrough(39)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:15:24 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
One of our guests has asked about how the function of mapped genes is determined. Let's talk about how you discover what a gene does once you've mapped it.
MsgId: *breakthrough(40)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:16:56 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Dr. Hood: Let me say that the major objective after the human genome project is finished will be to identify the functions of 100,000 or more human genes. This is something that is very difficult to do and that scientists will spend the next 50 to 100 years studying. At this point in time, there are three general approaches to discovering what genes do.
MsgId: *breakthrough(41)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:18:24 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
The first approach is to take the new gene and compare it against the data base of existing or known genes to see if there are any similarities. If a gene resembles previously known gene of known function, then one can infer that the new genes function must be similar.
MsgId: *breakthrough(42)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:19:37 EST 1996
From: guest At: 206.30.222.67
Dr. Hood,What are your thoughts on patenting sequence tagged sites ?
MsgId: *breakthrough(43)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:20:37 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
A second approach is to determine in what tissue types or cell types the unknown gene is expressed. This gives us some general clues as to what the gene might be doing. A third approach is to look for the motifs or basic building block components of genes. For these building block components are often correlated with certain functions. Thus certain DNA motifs suggest that a particular gene may play an important role in regulating the expression of other genes.
MsgId: *breakthrough(44)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:23:06 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
A new approach that is just beginning to be developed is based on the unity of life, on the fact that the information processing pathways of all living organisms employ similar strategies. Thus, we can take a human gene of unknown function and find its similar counterpart in a model organism such as yeast. Then we can do a wide variety of experiments in yeast to figure out what the yeAST gene is doing. Because yeast in humans employ similar information handling strategies we can infer from our yeast experiments something about how the human gene functions.
MsgId: *breakthrough(45)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:24:39 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Dr. Hood, one of our guests brings up the sometimes controversial issue of gene patenting. Do you see a future where a company can own the rights to genes in a segment of the population?
MsgId: *breakthrough(46)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:26:45 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Dr. Hood: In my view, patenting genes is important in order to insure that companies will invest the hundreds of millions of dollars necessary to create drugs that can attack the fundamental diseases of human kind. Some scientists have suggested that pieces or fragments of genes should be patented. I am against this. I believe scientists or companies should not be able to patent a gene unless its full structure has been determined and a biologically important function has been identified.
MsgId: *breakthrough(47)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:28:06 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Let me stress that unless companies can patent genes, many of the most dread diseases of humankind may not be successfully attacked. I would include many different types of mental disease as a particularly important example of what genetic engineering is going to play a major role in curing in the future.
MsgId: *breakthrough(48)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:29:53 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
I sometimes wonder why only ownership of a gene is discussed. Aren't there other ways for companies to protect their work? Is the general population endangered by companies patenting the genes?
MsgId: *breakthrough(49)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:32:08 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Dr. Hood: In my view, the general population is benefitted and not harmed by the patenting of genes. I believe this is so because figuring out how to generate new therapies for existing diseases is very expensive and its essential that the company can protect its investment. One must remember that any patent only runs for 20 years and thereafter the patents become open to anyone's use. This is how generic drugs are created when patents run out.
MsgId: *breakthrough(50)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:32:26 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
MsgId: *breakthrough(51)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:33:43 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
I think many people don't realize that a drug company wouldn't own a gene forever-- that the discovery of the gene and its functions would revert to the public domain. How come this isn't discussed more?
MsgId: *breakthrough(52)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:35:27 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Dr.Hood: Probably the reason gene ownership limitation aren't discussed is that for many, twenty years seems like a long time. IN addition, this is a technical point about patent law that many aren't familiar with.
MsgId: *breakthrough(53)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:37:47 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
The ethical issues of gene ownership bother many people. But people with genetic defects are feeling the pressure already. What can someone with a genetic defect, who might be denied insurance because of it, hope for through the Human Genome projects work?
MsgId: *breakthrough(54)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:40:43 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Dr. Hood: The human genome project is unusual in that 5% of its budget is being spent to consider the social, ethical and legal implications of human genetics. The human Genome project raises many deep and thoughtful issues. First, is there such a thing as genetic privacy. Our viewers will be interested to note that there are at least 4 laws before congress to insure genetic privacy. A second ethical issue is concerned with the fact that in 10 years we will have identified all 100,000 human genes, and hence, will be able to identify any genetic defect in utero, that is, in the unborn fetus. Questions about the boundary conditions for legal therapeutic abortion will arise, if indeed abortion is legal at that time.
MsgId: *breakthrough(55)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:43:33 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
A third issue concerns itself with the increasing ability we have to carry out genetic engineering in human cells. The genetic engineering most commonly referred to currently manipulates genes in ordinary cells of the body. These are called somatic cells. Some may attempt to manipulate genes in the sex cells, the human eggs or sperm. Gene manipulation in sex cells causes permanent changes in the human genome. These possibilities raise serious questions whether genetic engineering should be carried on in the sex cells, and if so, what limitations should be imposed on traits that might be engineered.
MsgId: *breakthrough(56)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:50:32 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
A fourth issue is centers about the fact that genes predispose to certain behaviors.
MsgId: *breakthrough(57)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:51:51 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
One gene predisposese to homosexual behavior, a second gene appears to predispose to thrill seeking behaviors, other genes may predispose to violent behaviors.
MsgId: *breakthrough(58)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:53:31 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
The question is whether sometime in the future, a criminal could say that you can't find me guilty, my genes made me do it. The issue joined here is how our judicial system, which argues for free will and individual responsiblity, can be juxtaposed against the fact that genes may predispose to certain types of behavior.
MsgId: *breakthrough(59)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:54:43 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Some may argue that we shouldn't study genes that predispose to behavior, however the key to understanding many different types of mental illness and curing them lies with studying just those genes that predispose to various behaviors.
MsgId: *breakthrough(60)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:55:43 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
How do you feel being in the center of this new paradism--the idea that we can choose who will follow us?
MsgId: *breakthrough(61)
Date: Wed Dec 18 21:57:26 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Dr. Hood; A few scientists are fortunate enough to live and practice their science during times of enormous scientific revolution. This is one of those times of scientific revolution in biotechnology. As a scientist I feel incredibly fortunate that I have been an active participant and leader in the changes that will revolutionize our lives as we move in to the 21 century.
MsgId: *breakthrough(62)
Date: Wed Dec 18 22:00:34 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
I've been fortunate to work with superb colleagues and even more fortunate to see the revolution of biotechnology from its very inception in the mid 1970s. What has been spectacular about the biological revolution has been the leading role technology has played in gaining access to the secrets of life. That role is more important today than even before. So chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics and physics, all are playing critical roles in developing tools for biotechnology of the future. And our center has been fortunate in playing a catalytic role, both in fostering interdisciplinary science, creating powerful tools for biology, and most important of all, applying them to the deep problems of biology and medicine. Its been a wonderful scientific career, and I have a feeling the best is yet to come.
MsgId: *breakthrough(63)
Date: Wed Dec 18 22:04:15 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
One last question, Dr. Hood, because I know you have committments, could be discuss why, with the ethical issues still to be ironed out, with people caught in the still evolving process of defining the true meaning of a genetic defect, is the research concentrating on humans, when mice, yeast and sea urchins also give the opportunity for the science to keep progressing until the ethics catches up?
MsgId: *breakthrough(64)
Date: Wed Dec 18 22:10:36 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Dr. Hood: Human suffering is the engine that funds biotechnology. Support for biotechnology comes both from the NIH and the pharmaceutical industry.
MsgId: *breakthrough(65)
Date: Wed Dec 18 22:12:39 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
One should remember that the ultimate objective of human medicine is to create a preventive medicine, that is a medicine where your DNA can be examined early in your life, your future health history predicted from your genes, and appropriate preventive measures taken to circumvent whatever limitations your genes impose on your health. Thus, the future of medicine will be focused on keeping people well, rather than letting them become sick, and then attempt to cure them.
MsgId: *breakthrough(66)
Date: Wed Dec 18 22:13:21 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Thank you, Dr. Hood, for joining us tonight.
MsgId: *breakthrough(67)
Date: Wed Dec 18 22:13:57 EST 1996
From: moderator At: 206.80.175.133
Dr. Hood: Goodnight everybody, and I've enjoyed talking with you.
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