Human genome project

Human Genome Project

The Human Genome Project (HGP) is an international scientific research project with the goal of determining the base pairs that make up human DNA, and of identifying and mapping all of the genes of the human genome from both a physical and a functional standpoint. It remains the world's largest collaborative biological project.

Etymology

The term "genome" was coined in 1920 by Hans Winkler, professor of botany at the University of Hamburg, Germany. The term "Human Genome Project" can be broken down into its constituent parts: "Human" refers to the species Homo sapiens, which is being studied; "Genome" refers to the full set of genes that each individual of that species possesses; and "Project" signifies the research effort aimed at achieving the goal.

History

The Project was proposed and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Energy (DOE). The project started in 1990 and was declared complete in 2003.

Goals

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 has also focused on several other key goals, such as developing new tools for data analysis, and addressing the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) that may arise from the project.

Impact

The Human Genome Project has transformed biological science and has had major impacts on medicine. It has led to the discovery of more than 1,800 disease genes. As a result, more than 2,000 genetic tests for human conditions have been developed, and these tests enable patients to learn their genetic risks for disease.

Related Terms

• Genome: The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
• DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material which is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
• Gene: A unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
• National Institutes of Health: A part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH is the nation’s medical research agency.
• Department of Energy: A department of the United States government tasked with the responsibility of managing the nation's energy resources and nuclear material.

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Human genome project
• Wikipedia's article - Human genome project

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