Human Genome Project

Human Genome Project

Genes are often described as the biologic blueprints or recipes for life . DNA , in which the genes are found , carries genetic information from one generation to the next and encodes the basic plan that will fashion from single cells a human , a butterfly , or a fungus . Current research in biology is beginning to crack this DNA code , leading eventually to a fundamental understanding of many biologic processes There is every reason to believe that this understanding will permit control over many biologic processes , and biologic control will transform

medicine , agriculture , animal husbandry , pharmaceutical production , and , perhaps , all other human endeavors that involve living organisms

Whether or not this type of therapy proves to be feasible , there is no doubt that our descendants will view our response to many diseases as crude at best . Cancer chemotherapy , radiation , and surgery are burdensome and often ineffective because of our lack of basic biologic knowledge . Autoimmune diseases , many blood diseases , heart disease hypertension , metabolic diseases , many degenerative diseases , and perhaps , a variety of psychiatric conditions will be exposed for effective attack when their basic biology is better understood . In to understand the genetic revolution that is now underway , it is necessary to understand the basics of human genetics and in particular the federally funded research endeavour called the Human Genome Project

In the 1980s , it was becoming increasingly apparent to many scientists that an understanding of basic biology would be greatly enhanced if the detailed structure of DNA was understood . In addition , technology was emerging that gave scientists confidence that such a massive undertaking could be successful . The debate in the scientific community over whether to pursue this goal led to key reports in 1988 by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences (Institute of Medicine 21-22 ) and the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment (United States Congress . Both supported the idea , and , despite a few voices of concern in the scientific community , Congress allocated funding for the creation of what became known as the Human Genome Project

To oversee the work , a new organization was established at the National Institutes of Health called the National Center for Human Genome Research . A smaller portion of the project was delegated to the U .S Department of Energy , based on that agency 's experience with genetic research related to radiation effects and its background in computer science . James D . Watson , Ph .D , the famous codiscoverer of the DNA double helix , was recruited to direct the NIH effort . Watson has been enthusiastic about the prospect of seeing scientific knowledge expand from the elucidation of the basic structure of DNA (in 1953 ) to a complete catalogue of the three billion base pairs in the human genome--all to be achieved within the lifetime of one scientist

It bears some emphasis that the scientific work of deciphering the basic structure of human DNA has been going on for decades and would have proceeded inevitably towards the same goals without the organized effort of the...