Brian Cox opens new Dundee University DNA lab

In the hit X-Men movie franchise, Hollywood actor Brian Cox portrays a scientist determined to expose mutants as a threat to humanity.
Brian Cox examines a section of his gene sequence with Dr Christian Cole. Picture: Alan Richardson (www.pix-AR.co.uk)Brian Cox examines a section of his gene sequence with Dr Christian Cole. Picture: Alan Richardson (www.pix-AR.co.uk)
Brian Cox examines a section of his gene sequence with Dr Christian Cole. Picture: Alan Richardson (www.pix-AR.co.uk)

But today the tables were turned as his own mutations were exposed.

Scientists examined his genes as he opened a new “Next Generation” laboratory at Dundee University.

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The 67-year-oldstar, who is the university’s rector, launched the state-of-the-art Genomic Sequencing Unit (GSU) at the College of Life Sciences – which aims to unravel not only pre-existing conditions, but also genetic predispositions to diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

Cox, a Type II diabetic, provided a sample of his own blood to have his DNA mapped using genome sequencing.

And on being handed a hard drive containing the sequencing of his entire genome, Cox said: “I’ve just been told only around 200 people in the world have one of these so I’m a member of a quite exclusive club.

“I was nervous about what I was going to be told but the scientists here have assured me I’m quite normal, almost disappointingly so. They have been going through my results and explaining to me what they mean.

“What I was most interested in was my diabetes, and what I have found out is that it’s much more to do with lifestyle than genetics. There are genetic elements at work, but I’m not as predisposed to it as I had previously thought.

“It is incredible to think that the whole of me is contained in this little hard drive. The work being done here is fantastic and it’s helped me see things like genes and DNA in a whole new way.”

In the superhero films, the X-Men have special powers due to their possession of the “X-Gene”.

Cox played William Stryker in 2003 film X-Men 2, a military scientist determined to mount a genocidal campaign to wipe out mutants.

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A long-standing supporter of diabetes research at Dundee University, Cox has talked openly about his own experiences of the disease.

Dr Christian Cole sifted through the data to perform a bioinformatics analysis.

This was made possible due to a leading edge Illumina HiSeq2000 sequencing instrument which, by analysing a person’s DNA, can help pinpoint pre-existing conditions and also genetic predispositions to diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

The instrument has been acquired by the University’s Centre for Dermatology and Genetic Medicine (DGEM), led by Professor Irwin McLean, to not only track down faulty genes that may cause skin disorders, but also to develop new treatments for currently incurable skin conditions and methods to deliver new therapies into the skin.

The facility will also be used for a variety of other applications for colleagues at the university, as well as external partners and agencies.

Dr Melanie Febrer, facility manager of the College of Life Sciences, said: “This is the first time we have been able to fully sequence genomes at Dundee, and we are delighted that Brian has agreed to demonstrate the power of this technology.

“It was only ten years ago that the first human genome was fully sequenced, and it took a consortium of international laboratories ten years to achieve this.

“This instrument has the capability of sequencing four human genomes at deep coverage in just ten days.

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“Examining a person’s genetic material shows the particular genetic code and mutations that may have led them to being predisposed to a disease.”

Dr Febrer added: “We are moving towards a situation where people could have their own genome sequenced at birth to try and identify diseases they are predisposed to or to make a diagnosis and begin treatment immediately.”

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