But what does it do
With high-throughput sequencing and improved molecular and genetic techniques, it's hard to get excited any longer about the mere cloning of a gene - it now requires validated functional data to raise eyebrows. Chiroscience Group plc (LSE:CRO, Cambridge, U.K.) last week announced the cloning of a gene involved in immune system regulation; however, for competitive reasons the company is providing little of the functional information necessary to determine whether it has a significant target to treat autoimmune and other inflammatory disorders.
The discovery was the result of a two-and-a-half year positional cloning project involving mouse genetics being conducted at CRO's Chiroscience R&D operations, formerly Darwin Molecular Corp. (Bothell, Wash.) which CRO acquired in 1996...