Bethesda, Maryland — The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) today launched the online Spanish Talking Glossary of Genetics to provide a resource to Spanish-speaking people seeking a better understanding of recent advances in genetics and genomics.

The Spanish "Talking Glossary of Genetics" is available free on NHGRI's Web site at www.genome.gov/sglossary.cfm. The genetics glossary is an innovative combination of text, illustrations and audio commentary in an accessible, user-friendly format. Students, teachers, medical professionals, librarians, journalists and others will discover easy-to-understand explanations of key genetics terms.

"NHGRI understands the value of making genetics and genomics information widely accessible to everyone," said NHGRI Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. "We have been working hard to make sure the Human Genome Project and its results will benefit all communities and all populations around the world. The Spanish glossary represents another step in that direction."

The Human Genome Project is one of the great feats of exploration in history, an inward voyage of discovery rather than an outward exploration of Earth or the cosmos. The project's mission is to sequence and map all human genetic material, together known as the genome. On April 14, this international research consortium, led by NHGRI and the Department of Energy, will announce the successful completion of the Human Genome Project. Also on April 14, NHGRI will unveil its bold, new vision for the future of genomics research, officially ushering in the era of the genome.

Spanish-speaking genetic researchers at NHGRI contributed to both the written and spoken definitions in the new glossary. In addition, the glossary was reviewed and evaluated by professors and students at California State University in Long Beach; Borough of Manhattan Community College — City University College of New York; Albany State University in Albany; Georgia, North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro; and Queensborough Community College — City University College of New York.

Featuring more than 150 terms, the glossary offers handy pronunciation guides, brief text definitions and dozens of richly illustrated diagrams of selected terms. The illustrations can be downloaded and printed without copyright restrictions by any user.

Beyond its standard dictionary-style definitions, the glossary also includes in-depth audio clips — spoken explanations — provided by Spanish-speaking genetic researchers. The audio clips can be heard in RealAudio, a common audio player compatible with most Internet browsers. The player can be downloaded for free on the glossary page at the NHGRI Web site.

"It's a bit like having your own private genetics teacher available anytime you wish to explain the definition of genetic terms such as pedigree, DNA or chromosome," said Jeff Witherly, director of NHGRI's Office of Science Education, which managed the Spanish glossary project and its English counterpart.

In addition to the online version, NHGRI is also making the Spanish glossary available, free of charge, as a limited edition CD-ROM, to libraries and educators without access to the Internet. The CD-ROM works in both Windows and Macintosh formats.

To request a CD-ROM, please contact:

Jeff Witherly
Director, Office of Science Education
National Human Genome Research Institute
Building 12A/Room 1039
MSC 5613
12 South Drive
Phone: (301) 402-8564
Fax: (301) 480-3897
E-mail: jlw@nhgri.nih.gov

NHGRI is one of the 27 institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Additional information about NHGRI can be found at its Web site, www.genome.gov.