Editing Manx cat (section)

=== Manx Cat Genome Project ===
To better understand the genetics of the breed, the '''Manx Cat Genome Project''' (MCGP) was launched in August 2015, as a [[Crowdfunding|crowdfunded]] volunteer project by [[Computational biology|computational biologist]] Rachel Glover of [[Douglas, Isle of Man]],<ref name="BBC News">{{cite news |title=Manx tailless cat genome project launched |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=4 August 2016 |work=[[BBC News]] |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-36975910 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref> to perform the first [[whole genome sequencing]] of the Manx cat, uncovering the [[genetic mutation]]s that make the Manx distinct from other cat populations, and to contribute data to the [[genome]] databases at the [[99 Lives]] Cat Genome Sequencing Project of the [[University of Missouri]],<ref name="IoM Today">{{cite news |title=Scientists looking for money for project to decode the Manx cat's genome |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=11 August 2015 |work=IoMToday |publisher=[[Isle of Man Newspapers]] |access-date=3 October 2016 |url=http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/scientists-looking-for-money-for-project-to-decode-the-manx-cat-s-genome-1-7403697 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819101637/http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/scientists-looking-for-money-for-project-to-decode-the-manx-cat-s-genome-1-7403697 |archive-date=19 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="MCGP Indiegogo" /><ref name="Hughes">{{cite web |title=Sequencing the Genome of the Manx Cat |first=Joe |last=Hughes |date=11 August 2015 |publisher=ServiceTech |via=[[LinkedIn]] |url= https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sequencing-genome-manx-cat-joe-hughes-cissp?forceNoSplash=true |url-access=registration  |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref> and the US [[National Center for Biotechnology Information]] (NCBI).<ref name="GenomeWeb">{{cite web |title=Manx Cat Genome Project |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=12 August 2015 |work=GenomeWeb |url= https://www.genomeweb.com/scan/manx-cat-genome-project |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161003103108/https://www.genomeweb.com/scan/manx-cat-genome-project |archive-date=3 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="MCGP About">{{cite web |title=About |first=Rachel |last=Glover |date=August 2015 |work=ManxCatGenome.com |publisher=Manx Cat Genome Project |url= http://www.manxcatgenome.com/about/ |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161003131046/http://www.manxcatgenome.com/about/ |archive-date=3 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref> It is the Isle of Man's first gene sequencing programme,<ref name="MCGP Indiegogo">{{cite web |title=Manx Cat Genome Project: A one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be involved in investigation the genes of the Manx cat |first=Rachel |last=Glover |publisher=Manx Cat Genome Project |via=[[Indiegogo]] |date=2015 |url= https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/manx-cat-genome-project#/ |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161003103221/https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/manx-cat-genome-project |archive-date=3 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="GenomeWeb" /> with samples collected and data analysed by MCGP in the Isle of Man, with the input of scientists around the world,<ref name="BBC News" /> initial sequencing work being performed by the firm Edinburgh Genomics<ref name="MCGP Bonnag">{{cite web |title=Project update and say hello to Bonnag! |first=Rachel |last=Glover |date=26 April 2016 |work=ManxCatGenome.com |publisher=Manx Cat Genome Project |url=http://www.manxcatgenome.com/2016/04/26/project-update-and-say-hello-to-bonnag/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003115555/http://www.manxcatgenome.com/2016/04/26/project-update-and-say-hello-to-bonnag/ |archive-date=3 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref> and the [[University of Edinburgh]] in [[Scotland]]<ref name="IoM News">{{cite news |title=Scientists sequence the genome of the Manx Cat |author=<!--Staff writer; no by-line other than initials "LC".--> |date=8 April 2016 |work=Isle of Man News |publisher=Manx Telecom Trading |url= http://www.manx.net/isle-of-man-news/80253/scientists-sequence-the-genome-of-the-manx-cat |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161003142033/http://www.manx.net/isle-of-man-news/80253/scientists-sequence-the-genome-of-the-manx-cat |archive-date=3 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref> and by 99 Lives, and server resources donated by Isle of Man biomedical information technology company ServiceTech.<ref name="IoM Today" />

The project aims to answer four questions:<ref name="Hughes" />
# Which mutations are unique to the breed, aside from the obvious suppressed tail?
# What genes are involved in Manx syndrome?
# What genes control tail length? (The Manx taillessness gene only determines whether the tail will be suppressed, not the extent of suppression.)
# Is there a genetic basis for any health problems associated with the breed other than Manx syndrome?
One desired result of this research is the development of tests that can be used to keep the breed healthy by identifying cats which should not be bred.<ref name="Manx Radio">{{Cite news |title=Secrets of the Manx cat revealed |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=5 August 2016 |work=[[Manx Radio]] |url= http://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/secrets-of-the-manx-cat-revealed/ |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161003144556/http://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/secrets-of-the-manx-cat-revealed/ |archive-date=3 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}} In the embedded audio portion.</ref> A minimum of three cats' genes will have to be sequenced to obtain the required genetic data.<ref name="IoM News" />

After the initial fundraising goal was reached in December 2015,<ref name="MCGP No1">{{cite web |title=Genome number 1 is funded! |first=Rachel |last=Glover |date=12 December 2015 |work=ManxCatGenome.com |publisher=Manx Cat Genome Project |url= http://www.manxcatgenome.com/2015/12/12/genome-number-1-is-funded/ |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161003120457/http://www.manxcatgenome.com/2015/12/12/genome-number-1-is-funded/ |archive-date=3 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref> the first cat sequenced was a [[purebred]] Manx [[Calico cat|calico]] rumpy named Bonnag, selected because the registry of this dam (breeding female) and her kittens in the British [[Governing Council of the Cat Fancy]] (GCCF) aids controlled study of a specific bloodline.<ref name="MCGP Bonnag" /> Bonnag's samples were sent for sequencing in April 2016,<ref name="MCGP Bonnag" /> with raw gene sequence results received by MCGP in August 2016; the laborious process of [[genome assembly]] has begun, to be followed by comparison with previously collected cat genomic data from 99 Lives, and eventual [[Peer review|peer-reviewed]] publication of the results in a [[scientific journal]].<ref name="MCGP sequence">{{cite web |title=We have Bonnag's genome sequence! |first=Rachel |last=Glover |date=2 August 2016 |work=ManxCatGenome.com |publisher=Manx Cat Genome Project |url=http://www.manxcatgenome.com/2016/08/02/we-have-bonnags-genome-sequence/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003121537/http://www.manxcatgenome.com/2016/08/02/we-have-bonnags-genome-sequence/ |archive-date=3 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref> Fundraising for the second genome to be sequenced by the project began September 2016; costs dropped to [[Pound sterling|UK£]]1,400 per cat in November 2015,<ref name="MCGP price">{{cite web |title=Shock genome price drop! |first=Rachel |last=Glover |date=8 November 2015 |work=ManxCatGenome.com |publisher=Manx Cat Genome Project |url= http://www.manxcatgenome.com/2015/11/08/shock-genome-price-drop/ |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161003114927/http://www.manxcatgenome.com/2015/11/08/shock-genome-price-drop/ |archive-date=3 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref> and as of April 2016 dropped to about £1,200,<ref name="IoM News" /><ref name="MCGP 1200">{{cite web |title=Sequence my cat |first=Rachel |last=Glover |date=October 2016 |work=ManxCatGenome.com |publisher=Manx Cat Genome Project |url=http://www.manxcatgenome.com/sequence-my-cat/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003125904/http://www.manxcatgenome.com/sequence-my-cat/ |archive-date=3 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref> using the [[Illumina (company)|Illumina]] HiSeq X Ten sequencer,<ref name="MCGP price" /> down from original projections of £10,000<ref name="IoM Today" /> before the X Ten was available for non-human sequencing.  The dramatic drop in costs allowed the first cat's sequencing to be done well ahead of the original schedule.<ref name="IoM News" /> MCGP has already identified the location of the mutation responsible for suppression of Bonnag's tail, the deletion of a single bit of genetic data among 2.8 billion making up the genome.<ref name="IoM News" />

The selected second sample is from a kitten that had to be euthanised for Manx syndrome, and it is hoped that this new sequence can identify the genetic specifics of the condition and why it only affects some offspring.<ref name="MCGP No2">{{cite web |title=We're fundraising for genome number 2 |first=Rachel |last=Glover |date=27 September 2016 |work=ManxCatGenome.com |publisher=Manx Cat Genome Project |url=http://www.manxcatgenome.com/2016/09/27/were-fundraising-for-genome-number-2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003103531/http://www.manxcatgenome.com/2016/09/27/were-fundraising-for-genome-number-2/ |archive-date=3 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="MCGP FB 2016-10">{{cite web |title=We need your help! |first=Rachel |last=Glover |date=27 September 2016 |publisher=Manx Cat Genome Project |via=[[Facebook]] |url= http://www.manxcatgenome.com/2016/09/27/were-fundraising-for-genome-number-2/ |url-status=unfit |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161003124808/https://www.facebook.com/manxcatgenome/ |archive-date=3 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref>