Cheapest gene map heralds new era
A new era of genetic medicine, in which every person will have access to his
or her complete DNA code, has moved closer after a US company announced the
completion of the cheapest human genome yet to be sequenced (Mark Henderson
writes).
The genetic code of an anonymous Nigerian man has been mapped for less than
$60,000 (£30,000), a cost that is just over half the lowest that had been
achieved previously.
The accomplishment by Applied Biosystems, a sequencing company based in Foster
City, California, suggests that it should be possible within a few years to
decode entire individual genomes for a few thousand pounds.
At this price, it would become plausible for healthcare providers such as the
NHS to order complete genome scans for all their patients.
A knowledge of each individual’s genetic variations could be used to predict
the risk of developing certain diseases and tailor specific therapies.
But some scientists and ethicists believe the genetic variants revealed are
not well enough understood to generate meaningful predictions.
MoD attacked on 11,000 lost ID cards
The Ministry of Defence is at the centre of a new security row, after the
disclosure that 11,000 military ID cards have been lost or stolen in two
years.
Opposition parties said that the scale of the losses cast fresh doubt on plans
for a national ID card scheme.
The MoD said that it took the issue very seriously and steps were being taken
to improve general security awareness. The cards have photographic ID on
them “so it would be difficult for them to be used by individuals they have
not been assigned to.” MoD figures released in a Commons written answer said
4,433 cards disappeared in 2006 and 6,812 last year.
Gerald Howarth, Tory defence spokesman, said: “This is another example of the
Government’s scandalous disregard for the security of our citizens and
another reason why the public has no confidence in the Government’s ID card
plans.”
Nick Harvey, Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, said the figures were “just
extraordinary” and made a mockery of the security procedures.
Afghan children die in British airstrikes
Two women and two children were killed in southern Afghanistan yesterday after
British troops called for airstrikes when they were trapped in a Taleban
ambush (Michael Evans writes).
“We deeply regret that this incident happened,” the Ministry of Defence said
last night.
The airstrikes also injured another Afghan civilian. The four bodies and the
wounded victim were all discovered when British troops searched the area in
Helmand province.
The deaths of the four civilians were being investigated, the MoD said. The
ministry added that every effort was made to avoid civilian casualties.
School trip girl found trapped in mud
A ten-year-old girl was found trapped up to her knees in mud after a game of
hide-and-seek went wrong on a school trip (Helen Nugent writes). Jody
Upton-Webb, from Plymouth — pictured, left, being reunited with her father
Tony — was discovered by volunteers from the Dartmoor Rescue Group after a
member of the public reported a child crying. Devon and Cornwall police
mounted a search for the girl, who was lost for three hours on a visit to
Burrator reservoir. A police spokeswoman said: “The rescuers followed the
cries, and found the girl. She had strayed into a boggy area.”
Robbery ordeal
Nine Britons were among a party of 12 who were robbed at gunpoint in a
45-minute ordeal on the first night of a trip to Ecuador. A masked gang
burst in as the group sat down for dinner in their hotel in El Mindo
village, 50 miles (80km) from Quito. The robbers escaped with about £10,000
of cash and belongings.
Police seize gun haul
A cache of guns has been seized by armed officers after a long-running
surveillance operation by Scotland Yard’s intelligence section. Officers
stopped a car in South London yesterday and arrested the driver. Two other
men were arrested in a house near by for possession of firearms.
Jailed for charity con
Two men who fleeced visitors to Cheltenham Festival over a period of two years
by claiming to be from the charity ChildLine have been jailed. Darren James,
36, and Charles Wellington, 42, both from Bournemouth, were sentenced to 15
months and 9 months respectively.
Bomb find halts play
A play about the Coventry Blitz was cancelled after a suspected Second World
War bomb was found 100 yards from the theatre. A performance of One Night in
November was called off after workers at the £113 million Belgrade Plaza
development beside the theatre dug up the 46cm (18in) unexploded device.
B&Q fined for hot tub that spread disease
B&Q has been ordered to pay nearly £100,000 after half a million customers
were exposed to legionnaires’ disease by a display hot tub.
Health officials investigating an outbreak of the bug found traces in a spa
pool, on display for two months in 2005. The bubbling water created an
aerosol of contaminated airborne water particles to which 510,000 customers
were exposed. Two people who contracted the disease had visited the store.
At North Avon Magistrates’ Court B&Q admitted failing to ensure the
safety of shoppers and staff at the store at Longwell Green, Bristol.
School chemical leak
About 30 schoolchildren were taken to hospital for precautionary check-ups
yesterday after a cannister of chemicals went off in the middle of a science
lesson. The Year 10 pupils at St George’s College of Technology in Sleaford,
Lincolnshire, suffered breathing difficulties when the cannister of sulphur
dioxide leaked in a class during an experiment.
Tube strike threat
London Underground workers have voted to strike over safety issues and ticket
office closures. The Transport Salaried Staffs Association said its members
supported action by 4-1. The union is disputing several issues, including
the use of agency staff. The Rail Maritime and Transport Union plans to
ballot its members on safety issues. Transport for London said all the
issues could be tackled in talks.
Mayor in court
A town’s mayor stepped down after it was alleged that he had been secretly
filmed refereeing a football match while claiming disability allowance.
Keith McNiffe, the Mayor of Pembroke, West Wales, will appear before
magistrates on Monday. He will be charged with receiving almost £10,000 in
benefits to which he was not entitled. Mr McNiffe said he was “gutted” at
the prosecution.
Straw house must go
An environmentalist who spent ten months building a cottage out of straw has
been told to tear it down by the farmer who owns the land. Steve James, 52,
used 200 bales of hay and spent £4,000 building the one-bedroom property on
Lambdoughty Farm, on the banks of Loch Doon in East Ayrshire, but has been
given until January 1, 2011, to remove it by Geoff Forrest, 48.
Jacksons in Devon
Michael Jackson’s family may move to Devon. The star’s older brother, Tito,
viewed homes in Barnstaple last weekend trying to find one to use as a
Jackson family UK base. He was with his friend, Matt Fiddes, a bodyguard and
owner of a chain of martial arts schools in Britain. Tito said: “We hope it
will be a family hideaway where my brothers and sisters can escape the media
attention when we need to.”
Bath hospital is hit by virus again
A hospital described as “filthy” by a Conservative peer has been struck by its
third norovirus outbreak in five months, NHS staff confirmed. Lord Mancroft
was criticised by the Royal United Hospital in Bath after he launched an attack
on the “grubby” nurses he encountered there. The latest bout forced six
wards to shut on Monday.
Patient’s guide to clean up NHS
A leukaemia patient infected with a hospital superbug has spent more than
£300,000 of his own money to clean up the NHS. Ashley Brooks, 41, of
Loughton, Essex, has created a Max Guide to Hand Hygiene Campaign pack and
sent it to 173 NHS trusts in Britain.
Pressure on GPs’ phone charging
Alan Johnson has put extra pressure on GPs to stop using 0844 numbers that
overcharge patients up to 4p a minute to call their surgeries. The Health
Secretary said: “The guidance we have sent out was very clear about not
using these numbers.”
Worm genes aid ageing research
Research into the genetic factors of ageing has found a set of genes that
influence lifespan in both yeast and a worm. Some of the genes are similar
in humans, indicating that they might be promising targets for drugs that
slow tissue damage in human ageing.
