The Human Genome Project and Genomic Research

This section presents information on the goals, accomplishments, and next steps in understanding the human genome. 

A genome is an organism s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. Each genome contains all of the information needed to build and maintain that organism. In humans, a copy of the entire genome—more than 3 biUion DNA base pairs—is contained in aU cells that have a nucleus. 

What Was the Human Genome Project and Why Has It Been Important  

The work of the Human Genome Project has allowed researchers to begin to understand the blueprint for building a person. As researchers learn more about the functions of genes and proteins, this knowledge will have a major impact in the fields of medicine, biotechnology, and the fife sciences. 

What Were the Goals of the Human Genome Project  

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Jenkins, I.L., The Human Genome Project Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications for the Minority Communities The Challenges and Impact of Humane Genome Research for Minority Communities. Zeta Phi Beta Society, Inc., National Educational Foundation, July 7-8, 2000, Philadelphia, PA (2000). 

The main goals of the Human Genome Project were to provide a complete and accurate sequence of the 3 billion DNA base pairs that make up the human genome and to find all of the estimated 20,000 to 25,000 human genes. The Project also aimed to sequence the genomes of several other organisms that are important to medical research, such as the mouse and the fruit fly. 

In April 2003, researchers announced that the Human Genome Project had completed a high-quality sequence of essentially the entire human genome. This sequence closed the gaps from a working draft of the genome, which was published in 2001. It also identified the locations of many human genes and provided information about their structure and... 

The pharmaceutical industry, together with the advances in gene therapy and understanding of mechanisms of causes of diseases, and the research results from the Human Genome Project have opened up a plethora of opportunities and made possible the development and use of drugs specifically targeting the sites where diseases are caused. 

In the eighth decade of his life, Berg remains active both as a researcher and as an advocate for the scientific community at the state and federal levels. In addition to serving as chair of the scientific advisory committee of the Human Genome Project, he has spoken and written in support of federal and state financing for stem cell research, human cloning, and other forms of biotechnology. 

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