A University of Utah geneticist has received a national award for his research in gene mutations, a spokesman said.
Raymond L. White was presented with the award, a monetary prize and a bronze medal, from the American Society for Human Genetics at a recent meeting in Baltimore."I'm very pleased," said White. "This is the major human genetics award in the country, a vote of confidence from those in the field."
Research from White and his colleagues' program laid the groundwork for characterization of the genes carrying mutations that cause retinoblastoma, an often fatal eye tumor.
The U. group developed genetic "markers" and then located the markers on maps of each human chromosome. The maps are available worldwide to scientists attempting to find genetic sources of inherited diseases, spokesman John Dwan said.
White's laboratory is using the marker method to identify mutation at the molecular level, and emphasis is being placed on pinpointing two genes. One is associated with an inherited predisposition to colon cancer, and the other is tied to neurofibromatosis, a disease with a high incidence of malignancy.
The characterization of the two genes is expected to reveal new information about how cancer develops in humans, Dwan said.