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`Genome project opens new avenues for cos'

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, May 1

THE human genome project has opened up tremendous opportunity for the Indian pharma and bio-technology companies, which can work on interpreting the genome and developing cures based on this information, according to Dr Eugene W. Myers, Vice-President, I nformatics Research, Celera Genomics.

Dr Myers was part of the five-member team, headed by Dr Craig Venter, that for the first time decoded the entire human genome. Celera Genomics had, as recently as June 2000, announced the decoding of the human genome.

``We have succeeded in sequencing the gene, but there is still a lot of work remaining in terms of understanding and interpreting the machinery of the cells. This throws open a tremendous opportunity for Indian bio-technology companies which can develop cures, particularly for local problems,'' he said.

Though he parried a question on the ethics of the project, in terms of creating super-human beings, he was not unduly concerned that the information may be used for commercial ventures.

``Information on the human genome was already publicly available, but our work on the mouse and future projects would be charged,'' he said. However, he added that over a period of time, the information would become free anyway.

The sequencing of the gene had been completed and there were 26,000 genes and there was evidence of 13,000 more. The next mission would be to completely interpret the text.

With the information already available, the forthcoming years would see an acceleration in finding curative drugs and avoiding inefficiencies in the drug discovery process.