"Shuguang" Facilitates China's Genome StudiesA new round of genome studies swept Hangzhou following the establishment of southern base of information science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Huada Genomics Institute on January 21.On April 1 the Shuguang (Dawning) super computer, which boasts a peak floating speed over 100bn times per second, was installed in Hangzhou Huada Genomics Institutes, placing Huada on the world 6th in gene sequencing ability and marking the birth of a complete, world-level genome information center in China. By now Huada has finished the platform construction of two forward sciences as genome and biological information. "Shuguang" high performance computer is a major achievement by the state's March 1986 Program, and the newly developed Shuguang 3000 super-servers can reach a peak floating speed of around 400bn times per second. Calculation center based on "Shuguang" will play an important role in the state's high performance calculation and development of national economy. Before this five high performance calculation centers have been built nationwide and China plans to add three more based on "Shuguang", with Hangzhou being the first one. China is nearly on a par with world developed countries in biological information management system and has great advantage in human resources. The scientific contribution of the Human Genome Program also takes the form of "big science" mode, in which many countries join hands in the researches of a certain subject. A research institute has been jointly established under CAS and Zhejiang University on studies of genome information science. By PD Online staff member Li Heng |
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