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Preliminary work has begun in the initiative to accelerate the application of human genome technologies and resources to the field of mutation research. A number of planning meetings and personal interviews have been held with scientists involved in both disciplines. A relatively detailed work scope for the participation of ICPEMC in this effort was developed during a September 1995 planning meeting, which also described the possible benefits to both fields. The Environmental Mutagen Society has begun an effort to address the issue of developing molecular-based methods to detect heritable genetic changes in humans. The ideas and information obtained from these conducted meetings, brainstorming sessions, and personal interviews will be used to prepare firm agendas for larger conferences to be held during 1997 or 1998.
Prior to these conferences, the findings and recommendations of the workshops will be recorded in a series of reports identifying technologies applicable to mutation research and recommendations for implementation. Documents suitable for informing the general public and funding agencies of the advances made in the ability to detect human mutations resulting from application of the HGP resources will also be produced. The technical reports will be published in the open literature and/or the World Wide Web, either as individually submitted papers or a collection of papers in a special journal issue.
We believe the effort to link the field of Mutation Research with the international HGP and other genomics-related technologies will provide powerful new approaches to increase significantly our understanding of the nature, causes, and consequences of genetic mutation (Wassom, 1996). A joint genomics-mutation research collaboration can address many longstanding issues, including estimating dose-response relationships between low levels of radiation exposure and cancer (the stimulus for DOE's initiation of the HGP), and obtaining more precise data for risk assessors regarding the health effects of chemical, physical, and biological agents.
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Monday, October 27, 2003