Leading scientists team up in bid to beat genetic diseases.
October 2011
As from the 1st October 2011, more than 200 staff and students from the MRC Human Genetics Unit will join the University of Edinburgh to form one of the largest centres for human genetics and molecular medicine in Europe.
The newly strengthened Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM) will aim to deliver clinical benefits directly to patients suffering from a variety of diseases including; brain and eye disorders, cystic fibrosis and childhood and adult cancers.
The University, the MRC and Cancer Research UK have been working together closely for many years in the area of human genetics.
The merger, which has the backing of around £60 million of funding from the MRC over five years, has the potential to provide major insights into mechanisms of disease and human biology, according to IGMM Director Professor Nicholas Hastie.
“Great science is all about scientists coming together, interacting, and exchanging ideas. Combining forces will give us the impetus to turn the potential of the genetic revolution into reality, bringing new understanding and treatments of disease.”
Professor Jonathan Seckl, Dean of Research of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at Edinburgh, added the move would make IGMM a world leader in genetics research.
“We will be able to use our increased knowledge and understanding of the human genome to develop new tests and therapies for patients suffering from devastating genetic diseases and cancers.”
Sir John Chisholm, Chairman of the MRC, said
“The MRC is delighted to join its Human Genetics Unit to the University in order to capitalise on this fast-moving science and accelerate the benefits to patients. This is part of the MRC’s strategy to make best use of the increasing capabilities of the university sector and maximise the return in terms of health and wealth from research expenditure”.
IGMM is a partnership between the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Molecular Medicine, the MRC and Cancer Research UK.
Twincredibles 9pm, Monday 10th October on BBC2 or on BBC iplayer.
October 2011
Twincredibles is a film that is being shown as part of BBC Two's Mixed Race Britain Season and follows five sets of twins, from toddlers through to adults, to create a surprising and compelling story about the journey of mixed race Britain. The stories of all these twins throw a new and fascinating light on how brothers and sisters who are similar in so many other ways lead different lives because of their skin colour.
Dr Jim Wilson was called upon to explain how it was possible for one twin to be black and the other white. To illustrate this he carried out some genetic testing on Shirley, the mother of the youngest set of twins, Hope and Leo. Their father is white and their mother black but the genetic ancestry testing showed that Shirley was in fact half European and half African by blood, which means she carries both skin lightening and skin darkening genetic variants. It is a lottery which of these she gave to each of her children - Hope has by chance inherited skin lightening variants and Leo got skin-darkening variants. If Shirley had one hundred children they would show a beautiful spectrum of colour from light to dark, it just so happens that Hope and Leo are from opposite ends of this spectrum.
Related Links
Dr Jim Wilson: Centre for Population Health Sciences at the University of Edinburgh
Black and White twins: The Guardian
What makes a mixed race twin white or black? BBC news
