Aaron Bouchie
 

The Mouse Sequencing Consortium (MSC) was formed in October to accelerate and expand the sequencing begun by the US National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI; Bethesda, MD) in September 1999. The aim of the public–private enterprise is to sequence 93–95% of the widely-used "black six" mouse strain by spring 2001. This will be done using $58 million provided by consortium members, including $34 million from six of the US National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD), $6.5 million from SmithKline Beecham (King of Prussia, PA), and $3.5 million from Affymetrix (Santa Clara, CA). Initially, "whole genome shotgun" strategy will generate short, random reads for immediate online public access (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). Then, genetic markers will be used to systematically arrange the sequences in an orderly, contiguous fashion to create a physical genomic map.

Also in October, Celera Genomics (Rockville, MD) announced it had sequenced 95% of a mouse genome comprising three different strains, and that it also plans to create a mouse SNP database that will probably include the MSC's data. Celera's stock ended the day down 9% at $63.25.