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 million in last year's budget for the Human Genome Project. However, a total cost of some $3 billion is envisaged over a 15-year period for the successful completion of the project. Few people doubt the value of this research, particularly in its application to human disease and gene therapy. The knowledge of the entire sequence of the 3 billion base pairs that comprise our 100,000 or so genes will biologically define a human being. However, little has been said about normal human variation and how it reflects our evolutionary past. With the rapid acculturation of small genetic isolates and the absorption of these groups into larger aggregates, much information on our evolutionary past is being lost. To date, the Human Genome Project has failed to address this problem. A number of laboratories are attempting to collect DNA specimens from various human genetic isolates, but these research units are financially limited and collect few samples based on families or unrelated individuals. Because of the difficulties in obtaining these specimens of DNA, access to these genetic data is limited. One solution to this problem is the creation of living cell lines from blood specimens. These cell lines could be maintained indefinitely and the DNA extracted from them would be more readily available. Some laboratories are implementing such programs. In addition, recent breakthroughs in the forensic sciences permit the extraction of DNA from hair follicles, thus facilitating comparisons between populations that are highly isolated geographically. I recently received a letter written by several concerned scientists about the establishment of an international center for the collection, processing, and storage of DNA samples from genetic isolates. This proposal, if implemented, would result in the preservation of the range of normal human DNA variation, a consequence of our evolutionary history. I would like to share this letter with you. It is reprinted below. It is my opinion that the Human Genome Project should include support for the establishment of an international center for the preser