© 1997 Nature Publishing Group http://www.nature.com/naturegenetics correspon1'-zce embryonic development originates in part through endogenous biosynthesis in the neuroepithelium and in part through exogenous, maternal- or yolk sac-derived cholesterol transported on lipoproteins. The papers describing hedgehog process- ing and function 1 · 4 provide a possible mol- 1. Chiang, C. et al. Nature 383, 407-413 (1996). 2. Porter, J.A., Young, K.E. & Beachy, P.A. Science 274, 25S-259 (1996). 3. Belloni, E. et al. Nature Genet. 14, 353-356 (1996). 4. Roessler, E. et al. Nature Genet. 14, 357-360 (1996). ecular mechanism by which impaired maternal-fetal cholesterol transport could affect the development of the central ner- vous system. Joachim Herz1. Thomas E. Willnow 2 & Robert V. Farese, Jr 3 5. Salen, G. et al . 1. li pid Res. 37, 116~ 1180 (1996). 6. Homanics, G. E. et al . Proc. Natl . Acad . Sci . USA 90, 238~2393 (1993). 7. Farese, R. V. Jr, Ruland, S. L., Flynn, L. M., Stokowski, R. P. & Young, S.G. Proc. Natl . Acad. Sci. USA 92, 1 Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75235, USA. 2 Max-Delbruck-Center, Franz- Gross-Haus 1340, Wiltbergstr. 50, 13125 Berlin- Buch, Germany. 3 Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California 94141, USA. 1774-1778 (1995). 8. Huang, L.-S. etal. J. Clin. Invest. 96, 2152-2161 (1995). 9. Willnow, T.E. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci . USA 93 846<H1464 (1996). 10. Farese, R. V. Jr. et al. J. Lipid Res. 37, 347-360 (1996). International collaboration in genetics research Sir - With reference to the letter by V.L. Nimgaonkar (June 1996, page 142) 1 , we note that though it is undesirable to "impose cumbersome rules by an inflexi- ble bureaucracy'; the rights of subjects who have donated their genetic material and the populations they represent must be pro- tected. Several instances of exploitation 2 • 3 and a "scramble" to collect DNA samples before the country (India) 'tightens its laws' have indicated that scientists in India have been approached by scientists abroad to send blood samples from indigenous pop- ulations or patients with rare medical dis- orders. Illegal or unauthorised transfer of DNA from ethnic groups and patients has also been reported in the Indian lay press 4 • These allegations cannot be dismissed eas- ily as ' until now the exchange of samples has been made on more pragmatic-and less formal grounds, involving for example either token 'gifts' in return or medical sup- plies and treatment' 5 . Countries with large, well studied populations may turn out to be 'genetic goldmines.... [but] ethical and economic problems [ will be] an inescapable feature of genetic research' 6 • The statement issued by UNESCO after the South-North Genome Conf erence not es that the ethnic diversity of India pro- vides an opportunity to gain insights into human genetics but emphasizes protection of the interests of developillg nations and their populations. It is, therefore, appro- priate that the national government should monitor, and if necessary, proscribe certain kinds of usage or traffic. The procedures for international sharing of genetic mater- ial are not onerous, hence we are extreme- ly critical of those who would choose to 'bypass the regulatory bodies entirely' 1 • Sci- entific, consumer and public groups have 124 been pressing for more stringent safeguards and there is an urgent need to make timely decisions regarding this matter. Rather than simply export DNA or cell lines, a more fruitful approach would be to set up modern facilities in the host coun- try and allow exchange of DNA with other countries for standardization of techniques and comparison. The large scientific com- munity, including geneticists, competent medical practitioners and a network of hos- pitals and health centers make this a work- able proposition in India. Source material could be managed at central laboratories, and if desired, be made available to inter- national collaborators with due protection. Many international collaborations have been equitable, but others have not -nor have they been respectful of the interests of the source population 3 • 5 • 7 • As a team of scientists, we are engaged in an effort to set up a multi-centre genetic study of psychiatric disorders in India with American collaboration, and with respect to institutional safeguards, we feel the concern ofNimgaonkar - that such a process may "hinder equitable collaboration" - is mis- placed. The intent of this initiative is to set up a state-of-the-art laboratory for genetic research in India with technical input from collaborators in the United States in linking multiple sites in India through an electron- ic network. All blood samples will remain in India and analysed here. For cross-labora- tory comparisons alone, samples will be exchanged in both directions with proper documentation. The intellectual property rights will be protected with a majori ty share of the patent, if any, being held by the col- laborating Indian sites and 20% of the ben- efits accruing from such a pa tent being used by individual institutions to develop better services for the population that provided the genetic material. We hope that this will serve as an important centre for manpower devel- opment in the field and as a model for othe1 disorders in India. In the light of previou: problems, proposals need to be careful!) screened and monitored and explicit guide- lines developed for international collabora· tive research. The Government oflndia anc its respective agencies are already engaged in this exercise. This will strengthen tht process of timely approval of such collabo- rative ventures. Somnath Chatterji1, Sanjeev Jain 1, Samir K. Brahmachari 2 , Partha Majumder 3 & Theodore Reich 4 1 Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and NeuroSciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore - 560029, India. 2 Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. 3 Division of Anthropometrics and Human Genetics, Indian Stat istical Institute , Calcutta, India. 4 Department of Psychiatry and Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. 1. Nimgaonkar, V.L. Nature Genet. 13, 142 (1996). 2. Editorial. Nature Genet. 12, 33~340 (1996). 3. Jayaraman, K.S. Nature 381, 13 (1996). 4. The Economic Times, Bangalore, India, 12 February 1996. 5. Dickson, D. Nature381, 11- 14(1996). 6. Cohen,B.Nature 381, 12(1996). 7. Mukerjee, M. Scient ific Am. 274, 4, 22- 26 (1 996). PAX6 missense mutation in isolated foveal hypoplasia Na ture Genetics 13, 141-142 (1 996). In the July issue, the numbering for the arginine-to-cysteine mutation (Rl 25C) stated in the text is incorr ect, and should read Rl 28C. The numbering of other variants is not affected, however. nature genetics volume 15 february 1997