Abstract: The nucleic acid sequence of mammalian Uteroglobin Related Protein (e.g., UGRP1 genes are disclosed. Specifically the mouse and the human UGRP1 promoters are disclosed herein. Vectors are disclosed that include these promoters, and these promoters operably linked to a heterologous nucleic acid sequence. Host cells are disclosed that are transformed with theses UGRP1 promoter sequences. A method is disclosed for determining the diagnosis or prognosis of a respiratory disorder in a subject, utilizing the UGRP1 promoter sequence. In one embodiment, the disorder is asthma. In another embodiment, the subject is a human, and the presence of a polymorphism in the UGRP1 promoter sequence is used to diagnose, or determine the prognosis of a respiratory disorder. One specific, non-limiting example of a polymorphism disclosed herein is a polymorphism at position −112 of the UGRP1 promoter.