Thailand to open human gene bank within 6 mths |
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Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:41
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BANGKOK (XFN-ASIA) - Thailand will open its first national human gene bank within six months, the head of the country's life science research center said.Thongchai Thavichachart, head of Thailand's Center of Excellence for Life Science, said the 'Bio-Bank' of human genetics will be set up at the Rajanukul Institute, which has already collected 10,000 DNA samples in Bangkok.'The Bio-Bank can open within six months because we will build it from what already exists,' Thongchai told Agence France-Presse.Further research at the institute could help find new treatments for heart disease and cancer, which kill more Thais than any other disease, he said.Thai scientists have already collected blood and DNA samples from 3,000 villagers from six tsunami-hit Thai provinces to try to identify the genes associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, he added.Tongchai also said the Bio-Bank, based in Bangkok, is close to meeting international standards, and only needs new software and improved management procedures in the lab, which he said his team is close to achieving.afp
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