Skip navigation.
Fri Feb 12 18:05:22 2010 [Write for us] | [Login/Register]
Home

New genetic sequencing standards proposed

user warning: Duplicate entry '985101' for key 1 query: INSERT INTO accesslog (title, path, url, hostname, uid, sid, timer, timestamp) values('Noble's Still Looking Regal', 'node/65174', 'http://themoneytimes.com/channels/technology/science_medicine?page=8', '207.241.228.148', 0, '9efa52b375c4e67dc259374ecaa1bb16', 312, 1266015834) in /home/themoney/public_html/modules/statistics/statistics.module on line 64.

Los Alamos -- U.S. and Canadian scientists say they've proposed a set of standards designed to elucidate the quality of publicly available genetic sequencing information.

The scientists, led by the Los Alamos National Laboratory, developed six labels for genome sequence data that are, or will become, available in public databases rather than the two labels used today. Scientists said the six labels roughly characterize the completeness and accuracy -- and consequently, the potential reliability -- of genetic sequencing data.

Los Alamos geneticist Patrick Chain, the study's lead author, said the labels are of great importance, since researchers use such data on a daily basis for cross-referencing unknown genetic material with the genetic material of known organisms.

Chain and colleagues propose sequence data be placed into one of six categories that augment the existing two categories. The six standards range from "standard draft sequence," representing minimum requirements for public submission, to a "finished sequence," the highest standard, which can be verified to contain only one sequencing error per 100,000 base pairs.

The project was reported in a recent issue of the journal Science.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Recent comments

The Money Times on Facebook

User login