[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 185 (Thursday, December 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING DR. LAWRENCE B. SCHOOK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. TIMOTHY V. JOHNSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 9, 2009

  Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
achievements of Dr. Lawrence B. Schook, who recently led an 
international team in the sequencing of the swine genome. Dr. Schook is 
a distinguished Gutsgell Professor and Director of the Division of 
Biomedical Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
where he has spent the past nine years researching genetic resistance 
to disease, regenerative medicine, and using genomics to create animal 
models for biomedical research.
  The draft sequence will allow researchers to pinpoint genes that are 
useful to pork production or are involved in immunity or other 
important physiological processes in the pig. It will enhance breeding 
practices, offer insight into diseases that afflict pigs (and, 
sometimes, also humans) and will assist in efforts to preserve the 
global heritage of rare, endangered and wild pigs. It also will be 
important for the study of human health because pigs are very similar 
to humans in their physiology, behavior and nutritional needs.
  With the growth of our world's population and subsequent rise in 
interaction between both domesticated and wild animals it is imperative 
that we continue to fund researchers such as Dr. Schook. The recent 
outbreak of H1N1 is a great reminder that the work of Dr. Schook and 
his colleagues is of upmost importance, not only to our world's food 
supply, but to our health as well.
  I would ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Dr. Schook, 
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and all of the team 
members under Dr. Schook who made this discovery possible.

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