High-throughput genotyping

Coordinator:		Prof. Dr. med. Markus Nöthen                                                               Dr. med. Thomas Bettecken
Institution:		Institut für Humangenetik, Universitätsklinikum Bonn                            Max Planck Institut für Psychiatrie, München
Homepage:		humangenetics.uni-bonn.de/index_ger.html

In order to identify disease genes, it is necessary to capture the variability of the human DNA sequence using a large number of patients and controls. The introduction of new chip-based technology allows the representation of genomewide variability. Subproject 4 of the MooDs Consortium will act as the central project responsible for  the high throughput genotyping of the genetic subprojects. Given the investment necessary for high throughput genotyping equipment and laboratory expertise, as well as the large number genotypes which will be generated (an estimated 1.600 billion), it is necessary for these tasks to be centralised within the network.

This offers important advantages with regard to:

 - effective organisation

 - consistently high and comparable data quality for all subprojects, provided by well trained and experienced personnel in specialised laboratories with strict quality  control management

- safeguarding of the longterm archiving of genotyping raw data

The provision of genotyping by subproject 4 provides the basis for the gene identification for bipolar affective disorder, unipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia planned by subprojects 1-3.