The Human Genome Project

1 Pages 322 Words

The idea of the Human Genome Project first began in a vague way in the 1970s when biologists started to investigate human genes at the molecular level. As biochemical analysis of DNA became possible, it became clear that certain segments of DNA were associated with particular conditions.
A range of countries began to map parts of the human genome in the 1980s but the international project really came into progress when the USA became involved. In 1989, the Human Genome Organization was discovered by leading scientists in the field to organize the immense international effort now involved in figuring out the secrets of our genes.
The project targets to chart the location of every human gene and to read and interpret every message prearranged in the twisted double helix of our DNA. It is a astonishing and very expensive activity, concerning advanced biotechnology, and will take many years to complete. A first draft of the human genome was declared in June 2000.
In February 2001, the explicitly funded Human Genome Project and the private corporation Celera mutually announced that they had mapped the main part of the human genome. These maps show that there are only about 30,000 genes – various fewer than the 100,000 expected.
In spite of its strong contributions to biological and medical research, Australia has been slow to become part of large-scale genome research. Little of our organizations have had the funding or amenities to embark on such projects. The founding of the Australian Genome Research Facility in 1995 supplied Australia with a facility for DNA sequencing.

There is without a doubt that information from the Human Genome Project will provide massive reimbursements to human health with the diagnosis and possible treatment of genetic diseases. On the other hand, some people feel that the huge quantities of money being spent on the project could be used to progress the human condition in more valuable ways....