Studying Genetics World-Wide
More than half the world’s population resides in Asia, but the hubs of genomic research are halfway around the world in the U.S. and Europe. The Human Genome Organization (HUGO) Pacific Pan-Asian SNP Initiative was established in 2004 to address the dirth of genetic information on the Asian population.
China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan are part of the international collaborative effort. Over 50,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) will be examined in each study participant.
The study aims to use genetic information to map Asian genetic history, migration patterns, and cultural development. It will also identify genetic differences between Asian populations, especially those that affect the risk of disease.
The Economic Times, India reports (May 9, 2005),
While India is ready, Malaysia, Hong Kong and South Korea are still not fully prepared. Japan, China and Singapore have collected samples. In the first phase, 2,600 samples will be collected with India contributing 400-500 samples. By later this month all the countries are expected to have laboratory facilities in preparedness for the project.
When I was doing research on the genetics of diabetes and kidney disease in the U.S., my study populations consisted only of white and black patients. Not until I spent my post-doctoral year in Taiwan did I finally analyze data from people of other races. The Pan-Asian SNP Initiative is an important step towards making sure that genetic technology won’t be limited only to those in Western industrialized countries.
