China Close to Finishing Human Genome Sequencing TaskChinese scientists announced Monday they are close to finishing their quota to sequence chromosome 3, about 30 million base-pairs of the human chromosomes, the Beijing Daily reported on April 18.Professor Chen Runsheng with the Chinese Academy of Sciences ( CAS), said it would take about three years for Chinese scientists to decipher chromosome 3, which accounts for 1 percent of human genomes to be deciphered. Chinese scientists joined last September a nine-year old international project aimed at deciphering human genomes by 2003, which determine the health and longevity of human beings. China was the only developing nation to participate in the project, which also involves the United States, Japan, Germany, France and Britain. Scientists say sequencing all of the human genomes lays a foundation to decipher the genetic codes of humans, and may also help develop genetics-based therapies. |
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