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A small percentage of genetic sequences couldn't be located within the human genome. Researchers got to the bottom of the mystery using math and some creative problem-solving.

Eric Lander, the Ó³»­´«Ã½â€™s president and founding director, is among 11 recipients of the first Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, an award that recognizes excellence in research aimed at curing intractable diseases and extending human life. Founding sponsors of the Breakthrough Prize include Sergey Brin, Anne Wojcicki, Mark Zuckerberg, and Yuri Milner. Art Levinson will serve as the Chairman of the Board of the Foundation administering the prize.

According to today’s prize announcement, Lander was selected for the discovery of general principles for identifying human disease genes, and enabling their application to medicine through pioneering work to create and analyze genetic, physical and sequence maps of the human genome.