Gov't launches disease genome research

SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- Government health authorities on Wednesday launched an
expert panel that will help draw a comprehensive genome map of various diseases
to determine how they affect Koreans.
The panel, made up of 62 government and private sector specialists, will be
tasked with drawing a definitive blueprint for how to collect and analyze data
that could allow scientists to pinpoint genes that causes certain illnesses, the
Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
KCDC said the panel is part of the broader Korean Genome Epidemiologic Study
(KoGES) program begun in 2001 that aims to collect long term data on lifestyle
and dietary habits of 300,000 Koreans and monitor their health conditions.
The data compiled can be used to determine why some people get sick and others
remain healthy.
As of September, KoGES had collected data on 170,000 people with the remainder to
be gathered by 2012.
The government's disease prevention agency said a detailed analysis of the data
could take time, but the study may in the future help people reduce the risk of
getting sick and assist doctors in making early diagnoses.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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