The Human Genome Project Essay examples - 2620 Words

The Human Genome Project The Human Genome Project is one of the most widely discussed topics in genetics today. The United States human genome project began in 1990, when the $3 billion dollar project to map 3 billion DNA base pairs was announced.(4) When the initial funding was provided, it was anticipated that the project would require 15 years to complete and the target date for completion was 2005.(8) Recent technological advances have shortened that time period, and it is now estimated that the program will be complete by 2003.(1) The program now has been expanded to an international effort involving research facilities in France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. There are also several private companies†¦show more content†¦Technical Aspects The technical aspects of the genome project are relatively complex and still have issues to resolve. The Human Genome Projects goal is to produce a highly accurate reference sequence of the human genome. The human genome is composed of a single compound, DNA. DNA is basically just a sequence of different base pairs, adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine, which are arranged in a double helix structure. Their purpose is to direct cell function and ultimately tissue differentiation. The DNA makes an organism what it is by directing the development of the body, including distinguishing characteristics and biochemical processes. The goal of the project is to sequence this sequence of DNA so that a map of it may be produced that shows the location and arrangement of all of the base pairs present in a human being. The level of accuracy of the DNA sample is 1 error in 10,000 base pairs.(1) The sample should be largely continuous across each human chromosome. The vast majority of human DNA i s similar from individual to individual with differences occurring only at specific areas. The project plans to map 80,000 human genes to specific chromosomal location prior to its completion. When the American genome project was formed the question of how to obtain a representative sample was raised. The decision was made that a DNA sample would be obtained from four individuals. This was further complicated when it was found that the DNA cameShow MoreRelatedThe Human Genome Project1460 Words   |  6 PagesGene Essay Assignment: The Human Genome Project A genome is the complete DNA set of an organism. These DNA molecules are made up of two strands. Every strand is composed of four nucleotide bases: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine. Complementary strands are paired in certain ways. Cytosine always pairs with guanine and adenine always pairs with thymine. The human genome holds about 3 billion base pairs, found in the chromosomes. Each of the 46 chromosomes are composed of thousands of genesRead MoreThe Human Of Human Genome Project995 Words   |  4 PagesThe Human Genome Project has been introduced to us more than twenty-five years from now. It was Initiated and sponsored by the National Human Genome Research Institute, the project was introduced aiming at researching more human genes in order to understand, read genes and find cure for diseases. It guided the medical field to new direction but at the same time created new challenges and problems. The primary objective of the project isn’t wrong or questionable but s ome believe its implications areRead MoreThe Human Genome Project?1023 Words   |  5 Pages The Human Genome Project Today we are learning the language in which God created life . . . humankind is on the verge of gaining immense new power to heal. Genome science will have a real impact on all our lives, and even more on the lives of our children. It will revolutionise the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of most, if not all, human diseases. - Bill Clinton, June 2002. The Human Genome Project came into existence in the late 1980 s asRead MoreThe Human Genome Project763 Words   |  3 Pages The author, Francis S. Collins, is the man responsible for the successful completion of Human Genome Project (HGP). HGP is an international multidisciplinary scientific research project which was involved in mapping and sequencing human DNA and determining the various aspects of its function. With this incredible expertise to his credit, Dr. Collins in the book ‘The Language of Life’ talks about personalizing medicine by understanding the DNA of each individual. The author starts by narrating someRead MoreThe Human Genome Project541 Words   |  2 Pages The Human Genome Project (HGP) began in 1990 with funding from the Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health with the goal of decoding the human genome. Researchers from across the world are working in conjunction to understand the sequence of amino acid base pairs and how they interact with one another to elicit specific genetic reactions. Once the decoding of the genome takes place, scientists will be able to develop individual treatment plans and understand a number of diseasesRead MoreEssay on The Human Genome Project1579 Words   |  7 Pages Does the Human Genome Project effect the moral standards of society? Can the information produced by it become a beneficial asset or a moral evil? For example, X chromosome markers can be used to identify ethnicity. A seemingly harmless collection of information from the Human Genome Project. But lets assume this information is used to explore ways to deny entry into countries, determine social class, or who gets prefer ential treatment. Whether or not this type of treatment is acceptable to a moralRead MoreThe Human Genome Project ( Hgp )1324 Words   |  6 PagesIn 2000, the $3 billion dollar project--The Human Genome Project (HGP)--came to completion. Geneticists can now provide a patient with a comprehensive map of their DNA sequence. Obtaining such information can tell a patient if they have the gene variant associated with many different genetically linked diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart conditions or even cancer. This medical revolution can indicate what drugs to take, at what dosage and what lifestyle choices can be made in order to preventRead MoreThe Human Genome Project : A Research Project1097 Words   |  5 PagesThe human genome project is a research project which had a purpose of being able to map and understand all the genes of human beings and organisms (National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health 2014a) and to determine the DNA se quence of the complete genome (National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health 2014b). The Human genome project enabled researchers to obtain the instructions they needed to gain an understanding of how to build an individualRead MoreEvolution Of The Human Genome Project1273 Words   |  6 PagesWhile many diseases and viruses are caused by outside sources, some diseases occur from within the human body. Regular ailments can be cured with medicine, or fought off overtime by getting a vaccine, but certain diseases and anomalies cannot be directly treated. This is because they are genetically inherited by certain parts of one’s DNA. DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid, and is inherited from the parents of a person. These strands, found within the nucleus of all cells, determine the appearanceRead MoreThe Human Genome Project A Go Or No?1319 Words   |  6 Pages Is the Human Genome Project a Go or No? Rapid growth in the health field over the past several decades has brought with it many advancements even in the prenatal stages of life, one may think this is all positive, but is it really? With all new technology and advancements in the health field the lives of humans can be heavily impacted by these advancements in the study of human genes. The study of the human genome began in the early 1990s and involved into a global project. The purpose was to