UC Irvine researchers have played a leading role in the genome
sequencing of Hydra, a freshwater polyp that has been a staple of
biological research for 300 years.
In the March 14 online version of Nature, UCI biologists
Robert Steele and Hans Bode, along with nine other UCI scientists
and an international team of researchers, describe the genome
sequence of an organism that continues to advance research on
regeneration, stem cells and patterning.
The team discovered Hydra to have about the same number of genes
as humans, sharing many of the same ones. Surprisingly, they also
found genes linked with Huntington's disease and with the
beta-amyloid plaque formation seen in Alzheimer's disease –
two areas in which UCI has traditionally strong research programs
– suggesting the possible use of Hydra as a research model
for these two diseases.
"Having the Hydra genome sequenced also enhances our ability to
use it to learn more about the basic biology of stem cells, which
are showing great promise for new treatments for a host of injuries
and diseases," said Steele, associate professor and interim chair
in biological chemistry.
Started in 2004, the Hydra project is the first genome
sequencing effort in which UCI scientists have played a major role.
The sequencing was carried out at the J. Craig Venter Institute and
was funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute.
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