DOE '99 Oakland Highlights
Meeting Intro
HGP Progress, Challenges
Joint Genome Institute
JGI Facility Opening
Sequencing
Device Speeds Sequencing
Chromosome 19 Genes
Functional Genomics
Sample Prep System
Informatics
Education & Bioethics
Microbial Genomes
Next Meeting Feb. 2000

Genome Project
Accelerated Timetable
FY1999 Budgets
JGI Refits Facility
Progress

In the News 
 Drosophila Near Completion
Directors, Researchers Receive Awards
Chromosomes 21, 22 Near Finish
Human MHC Region Sequenced
Mouse Probes Aid Mapping
Genetic Testing Committee
DOE Labs & Biomedicine
Biomedical Engineering Proposals
Drug Firms Create SNP Resource
SBIR 1999 Awards
HUGO News
1999 Hollaender Winners

Microbial Genomics 
EcoCyc Database for E. coli
Developing EcoCyc
Thermotoga Sequence
Clostridium Sequenced
Microbial Gene Finder
Neisseria Sequence
Microbial Web Sites

Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues
Education, Counseling Foundation
 ELSI Studies
ELSI Retrospective
Protecting Privacy

Informatics 
MGI 2.2 Released
DNA Repository

Web, Other Resources, Publications 
Metabolic Pathways
New Staden Package
PDB Newsletter
Polymorphism Database
Bacterial Protein Database
DOE BER Publications
HGP Information Web
Biotechnology Business Webs
Behavioral Genetics
Office of Science Reports
Articles on Genetics

Funding 
Genome Research Funding

Meeting Calendars & Acronyms 
Genome & Biotech Meetings 
Training Courses & Workshops 
Acronyms 

HGN archives & subscriptions 
HGP Information home

In the News

Human MHC Region Sequenced

Key to Transplant Rejection, Autoimmune Disease

Sequencing of the 4-Mb human Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) region of chromosome6 has been completed by the Sanger Centre, University of Washington, and Tokai University (www.sanger.ac.uk/HGP/Chr6/MHC.shtml).

Proteins encoded by genes residing in the MHC region are responsible for helping the body defend itself against microscopic invaders by distinguishing normal body constituents ("self") from everything else, which it then marks for extinction. Researchers hope that a better understanding of MHC proteins will lead to the development of new ways to minimize transplant rejection and fight such infectious and autoimmune diseases as arthritis and juvenile diabetes.

The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v10n3-4).