Beyond
the Human Genome Project -- What's Next?
Genomics and Its Impact on Science and Society: The Human Genome Project and Beyond Genome Sequences: Paving the Way for a More Comprehensive Understanding Building
a “Systems Level” View of Life One of the greatest impacts of having whole-genome sequences and powerful new genomic technologies may be an entirely new approach to conducting biological research. In the past, researchers studied one or a few genes or proteins at a time. Because biological processes are intertwined, these strategies provided incomplete—and often inaccurate—views. Researchers now can approach questions systematically and on a much grander scale. They can study all the genes expressed in a particular environment or all the gene products in a specific tissue, organ, or tumor. Other analyses will focus on how tens of thousands of genes and proteins work together in interconnected networks to orchestrate the chemistry of life. These holistic studies are the focus of a new field called “systems biology” (see DOE Genomics:GTL Program). Charting Human Variation Sets of SNPs on the same chromosome are
inherited in blocks (haplotypes). In 2005 a consortium
of researchers from six countries completed the
first phase of a map of SNP patterns that occur across
populations in Africa, Asia, and the United States.
Researchers hope that dramatically decreasing the
number of individual SNPs to be scanned will provide
a shortcut for tracking down the DNA regions associated
with such common complex diseases as cancer,
heart disease, diabetes, and some forms of mental illness.
The new map also may be useful in understanding
how genetic variation contributes to responses to
environmental factors. |
The online presentation of this publication is a special feature of the Human Genome Project Information Web site. |