A PLAN FOR THE MOUSE GENOME PROJECT

The National Center for Human Genome Research and the Department of En ergy convened a committee of geneticists and biologists who use the la boratory mouse in their research programs. Their responsibility was to identify goals and guidelines for completing the genetic and physical maps of the mouse genome. The motivation for convening this group was to make certain that existing and anticipated research projects toget her represent a comprehensive program for addressing the Five Year Goa ls of the Human Genome Project. Three meetings were held: the first ad dressed the contributions that the mouse can make to the Human Genome Project; the second meeting reviewed the status of the genetic map, ge ne mapping research, and genome informatics; and the final meeting eva luated the status of the physical map and physical mapping research. T he committee then prepared a report that reviewed the status of the mo use genome project and made recommendations concerning areas of resear ch emphasis. The resulting Request For Applications entitled 'Mapping the Mouse Genome with Emphasis on Technology Development' (RFA: HG-92- 002) is an important mechanism for coordinating mouse genome research and accomplishing the goals of the mouse genome project. Progress towa rds complete genetic and physical maps has been impressive. The geneti c map should be completed on schedule, and ongoing physical mapping pr ojects are promising. Given rapid progress on these maps, the Working Group proposed expanding the focus of the mouse genome effort to begin planning comprehensive approaches for characterizing the function of the large number of genes that will soon be mapped and eventually sequ enced. Partly as a consequence of the Working Group's efforts, discuss ions have begun among members of the scientific community and National Institutes of Health (NIH) staff to plan comprehensive, efficient, an d innovative approaches for studying gene function. The Working Group prepared a report summarizing the status of mouse genome research and recommending areas where effort and funding should be placed. Our repo rt was submitted to and accepted by the NIH and Department of Energy ( DOE) and is published here in its entirety.