Scientists Create First Gene Activity Map in Children

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has allocated $38.5 million to fund the Developmental Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (dGTEx). The project aims to create the first comprehensive database of gene expression in healthy child tissues. Samples are collected from children who passed away from various causes, with parental consent for donation. The project covers all major organs and systems, enabling the establishment of a benchmark for genetic activity in childhood.

Project leader Deanne Taylor and her team are standardizing data associated with each sample, including family medical history and tissue characteristics. A separate group analyzes the samples, after which all information is consolidated into a unified database. This data will serve as the foundation for research into normal development, diseases, and drug efficacy.

In the future, dGTEx results will be integrated into the Human Cell Atlas—a global project mapping human cells. Thanks to Taylor and her colleagues, the atlas will include a pediatric section, providing a comprehensive view of child development. Colleagues note that Taylor plays a key role in uniting efforts among different research groups working on the project.

The Human Cell Atlas project is a logical continuation of the Human Genome Project, completed in 2003. While the genome project provided scientists with a 'parts list,' the new atlas aims to serve as an 'assembly manual,' showing how and where genes function in the body. This will unlock new opportunities for studying why certain diseases manifest differently in individuals.