The Department of Energy supports genome research by taking advantage of the remarkable high throughput and cost-effective DNA sequencing capacity developed by the Office of Science Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program as part of the International Human Genome Project to meet future DNA sequencing needs of DOE and other agencies. BER also develops resources, tools, and technologies needed to analyze and interpret DNA sequence data from entire organisms and to study the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of information and data resulting from genome projects.

BER develops resources, tools, and technologies to understand the function of human genes that it identifies as part of the International Human Genome Project using model organisms such as the mouse, Fugu (the puffer fish), and Ciona (the sea squirt).