The Nucleic Acids Committee is concerned primarily with those ABRF members who perform DNA/RNA synthesis and DNA sequencing as a service, although other new technologies involving nucleic acids are also being monitored. The Committee has two studies presently in progress. The first is a survey of nucleic acids services which was collected last year. The analysis of these data is almost complete and will be submitted for publication later this year. This study indicated that 84 ABRF members offered oligonucleotide synthesis services and that 36 members offered DNA sequencing. The age of these facilities ranged from newly established to ones which must have been among the first in their fields. The data collected reflect this wide range of experience and the final analysis should present an interesting picture of the type of service available throughout the ABRF's membership. The second study was an unknown DNA sample which was submitted for DNA sequencing last fall. Approximately 40 labs returned their sequence analysis from this sample and the committee is eager to begin analysis of these data. However, the volume of data generated was quite large and the committee would like to know if any ABRF members with expertise in computer sequence analysis could assist in the selection of appropriate methods for comparing and analyzing the data generated. Anyone interested should contact Richard T. Pon at the University of Calgary (403-220-4277 or RTPON@acs.ucalgary.ca). The committee is also interested in the possibility of future workshops or conference presentations on topics related to nucleic acids and anyone with an interest in this area should contact either our committee or the education committee.
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