Welcome to the Public Health Perspective Series, the National Office of Public Health Genomics's highlights page. Each Public Health Perspective focuses on a single topic and contains information and commentary on discoveries of genetic variants, related disease outcomes, and the complex social, legal, and ethical issues surrounding genetic discoveries. Topics are examined from a public health perspective, and readers are encouraged to participate in an ongoing discussion in the reader’s forum.

This Public Health Perspective examines the topic of The Completion of the Human Genome Project: A Public Health Perspective.

This month, we are examining the topic, "The Completion of the Human Genome Project: A Public Health Perspective" (August 2003)

"Genomics will be to the 21st Century what infectious disease was to the 20th Century for public health. It has the potential to change our thinking. Genomics should be considered in every facet of public health: infectious disease, chronic disease, occupational health, and environmental health, in addition to maternal and child health."
S. Gerard, M. Hayes, and M.A. Rothstein
J Law Med Ethics; 2002 Fall; 30 (3 Suppl):173-176

“Think genomically; act locally.”
Kristin Peterson Oehlke
2001

In April 2003, the Human Genome Project was pronounced complete. Now, as we officially enter the genomics era, what will this mean for public health? Will genomic information lead to new opportunities for preventing disease or will it provide a new mechanism for excluding people from insurance or employment? Will genomics make any real difference to the practice of public health? The intent of this Public Health Perspective is to collect some of the relevant articles, stories and on-line materials that look at where we’ve been and attempt to project where we might be in the future.

• Research Priorities for the Public Health Sciences in the Post-Genomic Era
  Gwinn M, Khoury MJ
  Genetics in Medicine 2002; 4(6):410-11

• On the Edge of Tomorrow: Fitting Genomics into Public Health Policy 
  Gerard S, Hayes M, Rothstein RA
  J Law Med Ethics 2002 Fall; 30 (3 Suppl):173-176

• CDC Genomics and the Future of Public Health Symposium (May, 2003)
  Symposium Agenda
  Slide/Video Presentations
  Poster Presentations
  HuGE Agenda

• Genome Celebrations (NIH and DOE)

• Human Genome Project Completion: 1990-2003 - 50 Years of the Double Helix  
  From genome programs of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science

• 50 Years of DNA: From Double Helix to Health: A Celebration of the Genome

• National DNA Day  
  An Educational Videocast first presented on April 25, 2003 to mark the completion of the  s equencing of the human genome and the 50th anniversary of the description of the double helix.

• Double Helix: 50 years of DNA from Nature

• Articles from Science Magazine on The Final Draft of the Human Genome    
  (Registration required)

• Frequently Asked Questions about the Human Genome  from Genoscope,  

• World Health Organization (2002): Report on Genomics and World Health    with recommendations to ensure that genome technology is used to reduce rather than exacerbate global inequalities in health status.

• The Ethics of Access to Online Genetic Databases: Private or Public?   ( Acrobat Print File )
  A. Marks, B.A., Karen K. Steinberg, PhD. (2002)

• Genetic Discrimination Risks
  Mark A. Hall, J.D., Wake Forest University, November 2001

• Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Public Health Genetics (PHELSI).  The University of Michigan Center for Public Health and Community Genomics. Society is at a unique crossroads--the fields of public health, genetics, and ethics are all merging together into a single discipline, and there is a need to study ELSI issues relating to genetics in the PH context.

• News Items
  • Genome Project is a Model for Open, International Research
    (April 24, 2003) SiliconValley.com reports, "This month marked the conclusion of a profound chapter in human history, known as the Human Genome Project
    
• Human Genome Project Finished  
  (April 21, 2003) Chemical and Engineering News reports, "International consortium announces all original goals met, plans for future."

• Human Genome Project Complete
  (April 15, 2003) The Scientist reports, "'Final' version includes 99% of gene-containing DNA - variation between individuals is next challenge."

• Human Genome Done and Dusted
  (April 14, 2003) Nature reports, "For some it's the sense of completion. For others it's the importance of getting it right."
  

• Press Releases
  • April 14, 2003 The National Human Genome Research Institute reports, "International Consortium Completes Human Genome Project. All goals achieved; New vision for genome research unveiled."
    
  • April 14, 2003 The U.S. Department of Energy reports, International Consortium Completes Human Genome Project. All goals achieved; New vision for genome research unveiled."

• Editorials / Commentary
  • A Common Thread
    (April 22) washingtonpost.com reports, "This month marked the conclusion of a profound chapter in human history, known as the Human Genome Project." A piece by Dr. Francis Collins reflecting on the completion of the Human Genome Project
    
  • Who Cares About the Double Helix?
    Bruno J. Strasser.
    Nature 422, 803 - 804 (24 April 2003); doi:10.1038/422803a
    
  • Genomics in Medicine: Hype or Real Promise?
    Ed Rabinowitz
    Healthplan (January/February 2003)

• A Vision for the Future for Genomics Research: A Blueprint for the Genomics Era  
  National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health

• Genetics and Genomics in Practice: The Continuum from Genetic Disease to Genetic Information in Health and Disease
  Muin J. Khoury M.D., Ph.D.
  National Office of Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Genetics White Paper-UK Department of Health 
  "Our inheritance, our future - realizing the potential of genetics in the NHS" (2003)

• Databases
  • The Human Genome - A guide to online information resources from the National Library of Medicine  
  • Entrez-NCBI Databases  
    Search engine provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information for obtaining data on DNA sequences, protein sequences and structures, genome/chromosome maps and related bibliographic information .
  • GeneSNPs  
    Web resource integrating gene, sequence and polymorphism data.

• Education
  • The Double Helix at 50 - An Interactive DNA Timeline  
    From Newsday.com
  • The Human Genome Project: Exploring Our Molecular Selves  
    From National Human Genome Research Institute.
  • Genomics and Its Impact on Science and Society: A 2003 Primer, 2003  
    From the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.
  • DNA from the Beginning  
    An animated primer on the basics of DNA, genetics and heredity.

• Application of genomics
  • Building on the DNA Revolution
    Science Magazine celebrates the 50th anniversary of one of the signpost events of modern biology. (registration required
  • A Ten Year Retrospective 1992-2002  
    Nature Genetics 33:supplement; March 2003. 1992 - 2002

Provides link to non-governmental sites and does not necessarily represent the views of the Centers  for Disease Control and Prevention.