Human genetic diversity project at risk

The Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP), a scheme to collect and analyse DNA samples representing the world's ethnic diversity, is fighting for its life, according to a news report in last week's Nature.

A combination of political and public controversy has turned the ambitious international project into a set of DNA collection projects, funded from a variety of sources. Without further support, the DNA database and repository originally planned by the project's organisers seem unlikely to go ahead.

Some countries, such as New Guinea, are demanding a fee for every sample taken by researchers. Others, such as India, have completely forbidden the export of DNA. The HGDP may also have lost funding to projects with overlapping aims, such as the SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) consortium, which aims to identify genetic differences associated with disease or drug responses.

'Our lack of funding is a huge issue' says Henry Greely, a spokesman for the HGDP. But he added that rumours that the HGDP has died, or is in a comatose state, were exaggerated. Lap-Chee-Tsui, president of the Human Genome Organisation (HUGO), says that the programme doesn't have clearly defined goals and questions. But former HUGO president Walter Bodmer thinks that support for the HGDP project will grow, as more scientists become aware of the uses of data on genetic variation.