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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION |
Human Genome Sequence Completed
On April 15, 2003, a press conference was jointly held by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Natural Science Foundation to announce a congratulation message for the completed human genome sequence that was jointly undersigned by the heads of six countries including the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and his counterparts from USA, UK, Japan, France and Germany. The Human Genome Project was officially launched in October 1990 in the United States of America. The major missions of the Project have focused on the construction of DNA sequence charts through analyzing the DNA base pair sequence of human genome and mapping the sequence. With the active response of UK, Japan, Germany and France, the Project has gradually become a large international S&T cooperation endeavor in the field.
China joined the Project in 1999 and was assigned to work on sequencing the short arm of No. 3 chromosome, a 1% workload of the entire human genome sequence efforts. With a brief name as “1% project” in the country, China's due of sequencing was mainly organized and financed by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Natural Science Foundation with the strong support from Beijing and Shanghai municipal authorities. Beijing Huada Gene Research Center and the Northern Center and the Southern Center under the National Human Genome Group have jointly worked on this part of the international efforts for human genome sequencing.
In June 2000, the Human Genome Project completed its Working Draft for the sequence and in Feb. 2002 it published its “Refined Charts”. Under the concerted efforts of an international consortium of scientists including Chinese researchers, the finished human genome sequence was finally completed.
Leptospira Genome Sequenced
On the basis of their three-and-odd-year efforts, a research team mainly composed of Chinese scientists with the participation of their French and US counterparts has completed the full genome sequencing of the so-called question mark Leptospira, the bacteria contributing to the Leptospirosis. The scientists have also interpreted some new functions of these genes. The finding was carried in Nature published on April 24, 2003.
The research team gathered with the scientists from Shanghai Life Science Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai No.2 Medical University, Fudan University, the Institute of Pasteur under Hong Kong University and French Pasteur Institute and the Dept. of Biochemistry of US Pudu University has been working on a series of interpretations of biological information and studies on a number of key genes and proteins. On the basis of the genome information, the team has achieved phase results on in-depth understanding of the molecular physiology and diseases causing mechanism of Leptospira.
The completed sequencing of Leptospira genome has led to a full knowledge of the genetic structure of such bacteria. Scientists have found that the number of genes coded as rRNA and tRNA is surprisingly small, which may explain why it grows so slowly. The interpretation of these genes has worked out a full testimony to support previous study results on its metabolism and relevant genes and led to the discovery of a series of metabolic approaches with Leptospira characteristics. Meanwhile, scientists interpreted the genes related to diseases causing elements such as attacking, adhering, moving, trending and toxicity. They have found, in particular, a number of genes possibly related to potential epithelium damages and interfering of thrombocyte balancing, which has created new lines for further understanding the extensive viscera bleeding characterized by tiny blood vessel epithelium damages typical of Leptospira and icterohematuria, especially the paroxysmal massive lung hemorrhage, which are the special phenomena of severe infection.
New Views on Desert Vegetation
Recently Chinese and European scientists have jointly announced that they concluded that the desert vegetations over west China's arid areas are not in a state of “water shortage or thirst” as so imagined commonly. In this context, mere irrigation cannot change the moisture content in these plants. On the contrary, keeping a stable underground water level becomes critical to the normal growth of these desert plants. This is one of the research findings jointly achieved by China and EU under the Research Program of sustainable management ecology of natural vegetations over arid areas in mid-Asia.
Chinese, German and Austrian scientists jointly launched their study of sustainable management ecology of natural vegetations over arid areas in mid-Asia between 1998 and 2001. They have discovered, through physiological and irrigation experiments on the transitional plants grown between Cele Oasis sitting at the southern edge of Takelama Desert and the desert, that desert plants such as alhagi, calligonidine, Populus diversifolia and Chinese tamarisk were not greatly affected by irrigation in terms of their production capacity and moisture content and they even did not show apparent changes in their evaporation functions. On the contrary, the study shows that desert plants are of strong dependence on underground water.
The project was implemented on a number of S&T cooperation platforms provided by EU. It is briefed that both Chinese and European scientists will further study the elements affecting the underground water level in arid areas and associated implications on the growth, habituation and colony expanding process of desert plants.
China-South Korea Joint Sandstorm Monitoring
On April 15, China and South Korea officially kicked off their joint sandstorm monitoring network project to improve sandstorm weather monitoring and forecasting capability of both countries. It is briefed that the project would be jointly implemented by the China Meteorological Administration Bureau and South Korean International Cooperation Group. South Korean government will through the channel of South Korean International Cooperation Group contribute its fund to the Chinese government. In the meantime, the Chinese government will provide a matching fund to establish 5 joint sandstorm monitoring stations in Zhurihe and Tongliao of Inner Mongolia, Yushe of Shanxi Province, Huimin of Shandong Province and Dalian Municipality. The project will, following the generation, development and motion of sandstorms, equip these five monitoring stations with instruments for measuring aerosol quality and concentration, dry sedimentation, solar luminosity and visibility and laser radar so as to collect the data of local sand concentration and associated intensity, visibility and 3-D structures in the air. These data will be transmitted to South Korean meteorological agency for data sharing through the international telecommunication route of the Chinese Meteorological Administration Bureau. Both parties will arrange experts' visits and sponsor seminars on a regular basis so as to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation in studying and developing ways and means for sandstorm forecasting.
Coronavirus Testing Techniques
The Chinese Diseases Prevention and Control Center completed the development of three techniques and methods able to test coronaviruses on April 20th, 2003. The trial applications on the corpses, serum and cell cultures of the deceased SARS patients have demonstrated fine specificity and sensitivity.
Researchers used the said testing package to test 40 serum samples of suspected SARS patients sent from Guangdong Provincial Diseases Prevention and Control Center, 30 serum samples from Guangzhou Municipal Prevention and Control Center, 30 serum samples of Beijing residents having fevers and 30 serum samples of ordinary residents of Zhengding County, Hebei Province. The testing results have shown that IgM antibody specificity reached 90% and IgG specificity 83%. In addition, the testing package has picked out SARS patients from Beijing residents who had fevers but found no positive results from the tested residents of Zhengding County, Hebei Province.
It is briefed that with relatively high sensitivity and specificity the testing package is able to help doctors make quick diagnosis under numerous merits such as simple method, convenient operation, objective result, fast readout in 70 minutes and lower cost, suitable for massive samples testing.
One-hour SARS Testing Process
Beijing Institute of Genome under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Microbe Epidemics with Chinese Military Academy of Medical Sciences have, on the basis of their completed full sequencing of SARS viruses, jointly worked out on April 19,2003 enzyme linked immunosorbent assay based testing agent for diagnosing SARS viruses, which created a new approach to curbing the spread of the disease. It is reported that the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, as it is a reliable technique with the proven working mechanism, has been extensively applied in diagnosing viruses related diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis. Compared with other methods currently applied in diagnosing SARS, the new method is of numerous merits such as fewer samples needed, lower direct costs and shorter testing period (it only takes about one hour to tell the result).
It is reported that before the said development, the Institute of Microbe Epidemics with the Chinese Military Academy of Medical Sciences had worked out the so-called fast immunity florescent SARS testing technique, which may bring out the testing result in two hours.
The First Anti-SARS Drug into Clinic Testing
A new drug for fighting against SARS, the so-called restructured interferon α-2b spray has recently been approved by the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration for its clinic testing. The new drug, to be firstly applied among high risk groups such as doctors and nurses, is the first of its kind approved in the country after the Administration Bureau opened up its “green channel” for fighting against SARS.
It is briefed that experiments have shown that α-2b spray is of certain effect on blockading respiratory infections with some possible anti-viruses role in human body. Experts warn that the application of the new drug does not mean that it may blockade all infectious channels, though it is basically safe clinically. The new drug has not been allowed to have extensive applications in the course of its validity assessment as it can only in a limited manner get into its clinic testing for validity.
China's Pacific Expedition
On April 10, 2003, China's deep ocean expedition vessel Pacific I launched its voyage over the international waters of the Pacific Ocean to explore for more knowledge of the resources underneath. It is reported that the expedition will focus on the survey of mineral resources like cobalt rich agglomeration and multi-metal nodules and some other deep ocean development techniques and experiments.
As the main targets of this expedition will concentrate on resources surveys, the scientists will mainly work on a number of projects such as China's first survey targeting at cobalt rich agglomeration, the investigation of the special navigation route that may possibly lead to sea floor thermal liquid sulfides, investigating, collecting, classifying and preserving deep ocean biological genetic resources and screening out some deep ocean genes that are of development perspectives. Chinese scientists will also during the expedition launch other marine experimental activities such as sophisticated multi-wave sounding, deep dragging, sea floor video shooting, high accuracy sonic sounding techniques, submarine robot engineering and deep ocean drilling equipment testing.
It is reported that a further in-depth deep ocean environment investigation has been listed as one of the missions for the purpose of establishing an environment investigation, monitoring and assessment system for creating China's special prospecting and developing marine area of 75,000km2. In March 1999, China was entitled to a special right for prospecting and priority commercial development of the multi-metal mines over a designated sea area of 75,000km2 over the international sea floor of the Pacific Ocean. The said mines will not only constitute a further extension of China's marine rights and interests but also a strategic resource reserve for the country.
China's First Trilinear Hybrid Cabbage
Thanks to their 11-year tireless explorations, the researchers of Northwest Sci-Tech University of Agriculture and Forestry have, on the basis of culturing their newly discovered male infertile material for generations to screen out the new Chinese cabbage and rape genes hybrid male infertility, eventually worked out Baiza I, a trilinear hybrid Chinese cabbage variety with rape genes.
So far Baiza I has passed the field growing experiment and demonstration. During the period from 1997 to 2000, the new species was grown over Weibeihanyuan area in Shaan'xi Province and registered an average yield of 120.18 kilograms per mu (1mu=0.0667ha.), or 17.37% more than what Qinyou 4, a compared conventional variety had produced. In addition, the demonstration growing over extensive areas has turned out an average yield of 121.63 kilograms, or 21.3% higher than the yield of the compared varieties.
China's S&T Laws and Regulations Collection Published
To meet the demand of practicing administrative affairs according to law and make China in line with WTO rules, in recent years the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology has, in accordance with the unified deployment of the Chinese State Council, reviewed, abolished or revised the laws and regulations that are not in line with WTO rules or lagging behind the development of S&T activities while formulating and publishing new laws and regulations. To facilitate all walks of life to have a systematic and full knowledge of Chinese S&T laws and regulations and promote administrative practice according to law, the Ministry of Science and Technology has recently published the Collection of Chinese S&T Laws and Regulations. The Collection has gathered together all the existing laws and regulations in effect on promoting S&T advancement issued before March 31st, 2003 by the National People's Congress, the State Council, the Ministry of Science and Technologies and other governmental agencies, covering major S&T areas such as S&T system reform, S&T planning management, taxation, standards, high tech industries, brokerage services and intellectual property protection etc.
China's Strong Commitment for Human Genome Follow-Up Study
China has listed the follow-up activities of human genome study one of its 12 dedicated priority national S&T projects. Named as “functional genome and biochips”, the project has won a governmental grant of RMB 600 million from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology with its major missions focusing on genome applications in diagnosing and treating major diseases, understanding functional genes relating to major physiological functions, mononucleotide diversity of Chinese nationality, and study of proteins and major pathogenic fungus genome relating to major diseases and physiological functions. The project is also designed to further improve China's biotech innovation system, striving to be ranked among the world advanced in the follow-up studies of human genome.
Comments or inquiries on editorial matters or Newsletter content should be directed to:Mr. Cheng Jiayi, Department of International Cooperation, MOST 15B, Fuxing Road Beijing 100862, PR China Tel: (8610)68512650 Fax: (8610) 68512594
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