Genetics
GSA: 'Cardinal' Organisms to Human Biology
15/06/10 00:47 Filed in: GenomeWeb Daily Scan
Gary Ruvkun at Harvard Medical School suggested renaming "model organisms" as "cardinal organisms" in view of their importance in basic research and in the clinic. S. Pelech argues that this suggestion is rather self-serving and markedly overstates the real value of the study of invertebrates for understanding human pathology and further perpetuates the mythology that genomics analyses of organisms such as yeast, flies and worms are providing continuing breakthroughs in clinical research. Read More...
The Sound of Genetics
31/07/10 14:51 Filed in: GenomeWeb Daily Scan
The Wellcome Trust has funded a project to investigate the genetic determinants of musical ability, which has included the composition by Michael Zev and presentation by the New London Chamber Choir (NLCC) of a new choral work called 'Allele,' which is based on DNA sequence data from the 41 members of the NLCC. S. Pelech thinks that using DNA sequences is about as meaningful for composing a symphony or choral work as using stock market quotations, sport statistics or actuary data as inspirational sources, and wonders whether this is an appropriate choice for Wellcome Trust funding. Read More...