Family-Based Whole-Genome Sequencing Reveals Candidates for Mendelian Disease
Roach, Glusman et al., Science
Researchers at the Institute for Systems Biology and Complete Genomics have identified candidate disease-causing genes for Miller syndrome and ciliary dyskinesia, both Mendelian disorders. They sequenced the genomes of a family of four, allowing them to determine recombination sites with precision (at 99.999 percent accuracy) and identify rare single-nucleotide polymorphisms. "Our results demonstrate the unique value of complete genome sequencing in families," the authors write.
To Buy or Not to Buy
December 04, 2009
At Forbes's Science Business blog Matthew Herper wonders whether Amgen should acquire Human Genome Sciences. Biotech analyst Geoffrey Porges says it should, and that the price tag could be as high as $6.5 billion. Porges points out that Benlysta, Human Genome's lupus drug, is "one of the hotter biotech products" and that Amgen has more to offer Human Genome than GlaxoSmithKline, which has the rights to co-market Benlysta, does. "[Porges] argues that Amgen could do a lot more for Human Genome than Glaxo could, by immediately increasing manufacturing capacity, an existing sales force that visits the rheumatologists and dermatologists," Herper writes.
