A new five-year plan for the U.S. Human Genome Project.

T h e U.S. Human Genome Project is part of an international effort to develop genetic and physical maps and determine the DNA sequence of the human genome and the genomes of several model organisms. Thanks to advances in technology and a tightly focused effort, the project is on track with respect to its initial 5-year goals. Because 3 years have elapsed since these goals were set, and because a much more sophisticated and detailed understanding of what needs to be done and how to do it is now available, the goals have been refined and extended to cover the first 8 years (through September 1998) of the 15-year genome lrutlatlve. In 1990, the Human Genome programs of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Energy (DOE) developed a joint research plan with specific goals for the first 5 years [fiscal year (FY) 1991-95] of the U.S. Human Genome Project (/). It has served as a valuable guide for both the research community and the agencies' administrative staff in developing and executing the genome project and assessing its progress for the past 3 years. Great strides have been made toward the achievement of the initial set of goals, particularly with respect to constructing detailed human genetic maps, improving physical maps of the human genome and the genomes of certain model organisms, developing improved technology for DNA sequencing and information handling, and defining the most urgent set of ethical, legal, and social issues associated with the acquisition and use of large amounts of genetic information. Progress toward achieving the first set of goals for the genome project appears to be on schedule or, in some instances, even ahead of schedule. Furthermore, technological improvements that could not have been anticipated in 1990 have in some areas changed the scope of the project and allowed more ambitious approaches. Earlier this year, it was therefore decided to update and extend the initial goals to address the scope of genome research beyond the