Europe UK (Commonwealth Union) – Major financial investment has been secured for research exploring the influence of people’s genetic code on health and disease, particularly focusing on the vast regions of DNA with unclear functions.
The University of Edinburgh’s scientists have been awarded £46.3 million from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to support their ongoing work at the MRC Human Genetics Unit. This five-year funding will be instrumental in advancing research into the “dark genome,” which constitutes the underexplored 98% of human DNA. By delving into these uncharted areas, researchers hope to gain new insights into complex genetic diseases.
The project leaders aim to employ collaborative research and innovative techniques to comprehensively explore these lesser-studied regions and deepen our understanding of human genetic diseases.
Since the initial sequencing of the human genome in 2003, much of the research has concentrated on the segments of DNA that encode instructions for creating proteins—the basic building blocks of all living organisms. However, these protein-coding regions make up only two percent of the entire three billion-letter human genome.
The MRC funding represents a key investment in UK genomics research permitting scientists to alter their focus to the remaining non-coding sections of the DNA.
Previously considered “junk” DNA, the dark genome is now believed to play a crucial role in the development of various diseases. It exerts control over how, when, and where genes are switched on or off, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms behind these complex disorders.
“There are major questions to answer in genetics and genomics research, including how variation in the non-coding genome regulates health and disease, and it is vital that we further our understanding in this complex area and underpin the development of new diagnostics and therapies. We are delighted to be supporting the innovative research at the MRC Human Genetics Unit to continue addressing these important questions over the next 5 years,” said Dr Megan Dowie MRC who is Head of Molecular and Cellular Medicine.
