The Estonian Genome Centre of the University of Tartu calls gene donors back for another examination

The first complex study, which entails contacting 2000 current gene donors, has just been launched within the scope of the Centre of Translational Genomics established with the support of the University of Tartu Development Fund. This is a cooperation project of several different faculties of the University of Tartu, which in addition to the Estonian Genome Centre also involves the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tartu, the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology of the University of Tartu, the Institute of Computer Science of the University of Tartu and the Institute of Psychology of the University of Tartu. The duration of the project is five years and the scientists involved intend to study the heredity of people and how it relates to environmental factors and the lifestyles of people. The scientists focus on the processes of transferring genetic information in genome variations, epigenetic changes across informational RNA, and analysing proteins and metabolic degradation compounds.
 
Letters have already been sent to the first group of selected gene donors and the next group will also receive their invites in the coming months. The gene donors who return to take part in the project are given the opportunity to receive feedback about their health in the form of a thorough biochemical analysis of their blood.