The Human Genome Project

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The Human Genome Project

The Human Genome Project is a long-term project by international scientist to develop detailed genetic and physical maps of the human genome. Researchers are engaged in locating and identifying all of its genes and establishing the sequence of the genes and all other components of the genome. This monstrous task has the potential to dramatically increase our understanding of human evolution and variation, and perhaps most importantly…human disease.

The success of the Human Genome Project also poses potential societal problems. Some genetic disorders will be detectable long before there will be treatments available for them. Controversy could also arise over reproductive issues. For example, people may consider terminating pregnancies for reasons of genetic makeup, or if there is social pressure to limit reproductive rights or genetic grounds. Issues of genetic discrimination and confidentiality in the insurance industry and employment also must be addressed.

The Project

In 1988, a committee organized by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy developed an action plan for the Human Genome Project. In 1990, a five-year joint research proposal was submitted to Congress, and in October 1990, the Human Genome Project officially began. The project has been organized and supported primarily by the DOE and the NIH, which established working groups to address genome mapping, computational analysis to handle databases, and the social, legal, and ethical implications of the human genome research. Congress funds the project through the National Center for Human Genome Research at the NIH, which in turn awards grants and contracts to U.S. investigators. Additional funding from Con...

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...of the "human being," absolutely outweigh the negative factors. I do believe however that a certain level of education should begin to inform individuals about the project and the results to come, and perhaps fewer problems will result.

References

Patenting the Human Genome: The Lancet Oct 2, 1999 p1135

The Human Genome Project and Gene Therapy: A genetic counselors perspective Journal of Prenatal & Neonatal Nursing, Dec 1998 p16

The Code Breaker: Discover, May 1998 p44

Genetic Sampling: big brother, or big science? Public Health Reports:Jan-Feb 1998 p71

The Human Genome Project: http://www.ornl.gov/TechResources/Human_Genome/home.html

Some Other Useful Web Sites

Center Site

NIH Human Genome Program http://www.nhgri.nih.gov/HGP/

DOE Human Genome Program http://www.er.doe.gov/production/ober/hug_top.html

Genome Database http://gdb.org/

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