Lessons from the Human Genome Project: Modesty, Honesty, and Realism

Lessons from the Human Genome Project: Modesty, Honesty, and Realism

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The Human Genome Project: lessons from large-scale biology.

Thinking big comes naturally to many biologists. Pursuing biological research on a monumental scale traditionally has not. Given the depth of that dichotomy, it is amazing that any established scientist would consider signing on to a biological research endeavor of the magnitude of the Human Genome Project (HGP), let alone agree to help steer the ship. Yet, each of us did. Now that biology’s fi...

The Human Genome Project.

Dear readers, The last few decades have seen a number of exciting developments in genetics. First, Watson and Crick broke the genetic code; since then, tech-nologic and methodologic breakthroughs have permitted the study and direct manipulation of our DNA. Now there is an international ground swell to map and sequence the human genome. The Bush administration had originally requested $128 milli...

The Human Genome Project.

The Human Genome Project

genetic mapping; DNA; applied research; molecular genetics T Human Genome Project is an international research project whose primary mission is to decipher the chemical sequence of the complete human genetic material (i.e., the entire genome), identify all 50,000 to 100,000 genes contained within the genome, and provide research tools to analyze all this genetic information. This ambitious proj...