Uses of the Human Genome Research Project

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So what is a human genome and why is the government researching it? The Human genome is the sequence of roughly 20,000 genes that make up human Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), or the building blocks that tell cells what to do. The government project named Human Genome Project (HGP) started in 1990’s, and is trying to unravel the 3 billion chemical base pairs in a DNA strand (http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-science/genetics-molecular-medicine/current-topics/human-genome.shtml.)

DNA is made up of phosphates, sugars and amino acids, Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine(C) and Guanine (G). Each amino acid is paired with its opposite, A is always paired with T and C with G. These pairing in a specific order make codes that cells use as instruction for making proteins that perform specific functions in cells. The purpose of the HGP is to identify all genes in human DNA, store the information in a database, while improving the tools used to sequence DNA (Toriello, pg 15-28.) The project also has to deal with the ethical issues that come from these experiments. In 2003 after 13 years a full strand of DNA was decoded. Of course each person’s DNA is unique, with the exceptions of identical twin, so much more work is yet to be done to make this technology useful in every day life.

Once a DNA strand is sequenced there are many ways to use the information found in it. One possibility is to find what genes influence the development of diseases, like cancer, deformities, or Alzheimer’s, only to mention a few. If you know you have the gene on chromosome 19 that is linked with Alzheimer’s, there may be ways to treat the disorder early, slow its progress, or even prevent it. At the very least the family can prepare for th...

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Works Cited
Puck, Jennifer, Malech, and Harry. National Human Genome Research institute, Genetics and Molecular Biology Branch. Jan 31, 2006. Jan 1, 2010. https://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=154080.

Human Genome. 1995. American Medical Association. Jan 1, 2010. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-science/genetics-molecular-medicine/current-topics/human-genome.shtml

Carroll, Sean. The making of the fittest. New York: Julia Druskin, 2006.

Nicolson, Cynthia. Baa. Toronto: Kids Can Press Ltd, 2001.

Gralla, Jay. Understanding Cloning. Indianapolis: Marie Butler-Knight, 2004.

Walker, Richard. Genes & DNA. Boston: Kingfisher, 2003.

Toriello, James. The Human Genome Project. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, 2003.

Fridell, Ron. Genetic Engineering. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company, 2006.

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