The Human Genome Project

Starting in 1990, an international endeavor to determine the entire sequence of bases that make up a complete set of human genes was begun. This project is known as the Human Genome Project. Genome combines the two words gene and chromosome and it has been found that the genes make up only about 3% of base sequences. In 2001 a “working draft” was published presenting the entire genome and identifying over 30,000 individual gene sequences and mapping their locations on the 23 human chromosomes. However, scientists expect there to be over 100,000 genes in human DNA. This project has lead to new discoveries about all higher vertebrates and their similar sets of genes. This genome map has also begun to aid scientists in identifying genes that are linked to specific physical attributes, behaviors, learning styles and diseases. Information provided by the Human Genome Project could easily revolutionize medicine by guiding scientists towards new drug discoveries and therapeutic strategies.

Unfamiliar terms:
• Human Genome Project: An international effort to determine the entire sequence of bases that make up the complete set of human genes, or genome.

I have often heard people reference the Human Genome Project, however, until reading this section of the text I did not really know what the project entailed. This process of decoding gene sequences seems incredibly tedious and time consuming, it almost appears as if it cannot be done. However, I admire the efforts of those working on the Human Genome Project because their discoveries can lead to many insightful findings. Because of their research, scientists have found that all higher vertebrates such as humans, rats and marine animals all share many of the same sets of genes. This difference has mainly to do with the varying genes that are switched “on” or switched “off.” This finding is amazing to me. I thought the differences in our DNA as compared to something like a rat would be drastically different. The Human Genome Projects has found, however, that this is not the case and that we really are incredibly similar to all higher vertebrates when it comes to our DNA. I also found it amazing the large number of genes that actually make up our DNA, there are over 100,000. This section was informative and easy to understand, but also very interesting and insightful.

The Human Genome Project is now leading the way towards uncovering all sorts of vital information. Updated “working drafts” were published from 2002 to 2004 that include 99% of the gene-rich regions of DNA that are now sequenced. This more recent publishing shows the increasing speed that scientist are now working at, and leads me to be much more optimistic that this project with be completed with accuracy. I also found it interesting and exciting that this new genome map allows for better insight into specific physical attributes, behaviors, learning styles and diseases. We may be fast approaching the answers to many current medical mysteries because of this project. This section of the text even states that the information from the Human Genome Project “has the potential to revolutionize medicine,” (332). This is because this information is providing insight into many basic chemical processes that underlie disease and also by guiding scientists towards the discovery of new drugs and therapeutic strategies. Information from the Human Genome Project may also soon be able to aid forensic chemist by allowing them new DNA testing methods as well as just further insight on comparing human DNA and its sequences.
Baird, Colin. Chemistry in Your Life. W.H. Freeman & Company, New York. 2006. 332