NCI Discovers Gene Variations From Existing Databases

BETHESDA, Md—Using new computer software to “mine” existing databases, National Cancer Institute (NCI) scientists have discovered 10,435 possible new variations in human genes. The so-called single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, must still be validated, but NCI said each of the variations met statistical confidence levels of 0.99%.

SNPs are considered likely influences on how fast a cancer grows and how well it responds to treatment. However, finding and understanding the variations has posed a considerable technical challenge, one eased somewhat by the special software used by the NCI scientists, noted team leader Kenneth Buetow, PhD.

Information on the new SNPs is available free to researchers on the NCI’s Cancer Genome Anatomy Project website (http://lpg.nci.nih.gov).