Abstract
In a new initiative to identify genes that cause common diseases, the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) has announced that it is to fund 14 new DNA collections at a cost of £8.3m. Conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and mental health disorders, which have strong genetic components, will be studied using large collections of DNA from patients who are being treated for specific diseases, and DNA from unaffected individuals. For example, the genetic predisposition to breast cancer, which kills 12 000 women in the UK per year, is being investigated using a DNA panel taken from 500 pairs of sisters who both have breast cancer. Collections will be nationally available through regional banking facilities. Details are available at the MRC website (http://www.mrc.ac.uk). (AR).
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