Genome, decoding

The secrets of the human genome are just beginning to be uncovered, discovered, understood, and finally utilized. It is an eventful, important trip that we are both witness to and have an essential stake in, and some of us may take an active part in. New genes are continually being discovered. So while we have decoded the human genome, we have not unlocked most of its secrets. 

Figure 9.1 The Human Genome Project completed the human genome sequence in 2003 using new tools like the computer program shown above. This program provides an automated method of decoding the sequence of base-pairs in DNA fragments extracted from human chromosomes.

Ideker T, Galitski T, Hood L. A new approach to decoding life systems biology. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2001 2 343-372. 

He brings us to the present situation, where ecological concerns are increasingly important. Current research frontiers such as nanotechnology are included. Of course the recent decoding of the human Genome is ranked as a landmark of polymer chemistry, and the continuing evolution of proteomics is an exercise in structural polyamide chemistry. 

And after all that, after struggling through those years of decoding and genomics research, what kind of product would the pharmaceutical labs end up with Most likely a narrowly targeted niche drug that wouldn t make much money. 

Ideker, T., Galitski, T. and Hood, L. (2001) Anew approach to decoding life systems biology. Annu. Rev. Genomics Hum. Genet. 2, 343-372. 

---