A Scottish university has received over £40 million in funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) for research, including the exploration of the “dark genome.”
The MRC Human Genetics Unit at Edinburgh University has been awarded a total of £46.3 million. The research will focus on the 98% of DNA that has been underexplored, with the goal of benefiting individuals with genetic conditions and cancer.
The funding, spanning five years, will support the study of the previously known “junk” DNA in order to gain new insights into complex genetic diseases.
Scientists will utilize collaborative research and innovative techniques to delve into these understudied regions of DNA, aiming to enhance our understanding of human genetic diseases.
Traditionally, research after the sequencing of the human genome in 2003 has concentrated on DNA segments containing instructions for protein production, which only accounts for 2% of the entire genome consisting of three billion letters.
This substantial investment in UK genomics research by the MRC will enable scientists to focus on the remaining portions of DNA.
Professor Wendy Bickmore, director of the MRC Human Genetics Unit at the University of Edinburgh, expressed excitement, stating, “While having a significant amount of human genome sequence data is thrilling, we need to translate that data into knowledge about the functioning of our genome in relation to health and disease.
“This funding will empower us to address this challenge by leveraging experimental and computational expertise to gain a better understanding of, manage, and treat diseases, ultimately improving the lives of individuals affected by genetic conditions and cancer,” she added.
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