title: The Iranian Human Mutation Gene Bank: a data and sample resource for worldwide collaborative genetics research.
abstract: As Human Genome Project exploration continues, the necessity of having a broader spectrum of genomic DNA material from different nationalities to study various aspects of hereditary disease becomes more obvious. The existence of high genetic polymorphism within and between different communities in the world makes it necessary for the gene hunters to investigate many different populations. Iran, a large country with close to 66 million people, is a land of different nationalities, tribes, and religions that offers a highly heterogeneous gene pool to the genetics researcher. The purity of many different races in this country has been highly conserved by geographical borders and by an ancient culture that has always encouraged intrafamilial marriages. All these have created a population that is remarkably heterogeneous yet high in consanguinity rate. During the last five years of investigation we have established a DNA bank, the Iranian Human Mutation Gene Bank (www.IHMGB.com), which contains all genetic diseases studied in Iran that have the Mendelian mode of inheritance. Some of the samples are assigned to common or novel mutations and others belong to patients with clinical profiles associated with particular genetic diseases but undefined mutation. This bank stores samples of DNA from the patient and his/her first-degree relatives together with a comprehensive pedigree and clinical profile for each sample. To facilitate collaboration with other scientists around the world with the same interests, we decided to present our experimental projects online. This DNA bank provides opportunities for us to collaborate with scientists outside Iran. It offers a sample resource to research scientists around the world, at no charge, for the purpose of investigating the various aspects of genetic disorders from prenatal diagnosis to gene structure and function. It is strongly stressed that no commercial benefit is involved in the establishment of this DNA bank and the DNA samples are free of charge. However, to meet our goals and to respect ethical values, DNA samples can only be used under certain conditions stated in the User Consent Form.
authors.affiliation: Genetics Research Center, Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences University, Tehran, Iran. hnajm@mavara.com
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Najmabadi
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neishabury
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sahebjam
authors.forename: Kimia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kahrizi
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shafaghati
authors.forename: Nushin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikzat
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jalalvand
authors.forename: Farahnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aminy
authors.forename: Susan Bany
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moghimi
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Noorian
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jannati
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.forename: Khalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Javan
mesh_terms: D003241:Consanguinity; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics; D040181:Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / Q000235:genetics; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D036281:Genetic Research; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D007492:Iran; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012107:Research Design; D012873:Skin Diseases, Genetic / Q000235:genetics