What can be learned from genetic research in the laboratory?
Some people are more susceptible to the effects of beryllium exposure than others. We have learned through our work together with BWI and the work of others that this is due, at least in part, to an association with HLA-DPB1Glu69-a genetic marker called Glu 69 gene. In addition, there are many questions that could be investigated if an “animal model” for CBD was available. To fill this research gap a “transgenic mouse” model has been developed in partnership with Dr. Eddy Rubin at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories in Berkeley, CA. This was done by merging specific human genes (HLA-DPB1) with mouse DNA.
