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Completed
in 2003, the Human Genome Project (HGP) was a 13-year project coordinated
by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of
Health. During the early years of the HGP, the Wellcome Trust (U.K.)
became a major partner; additional contributions came from Japan,
France, Germany, China, and others. See our history
page for more information.
Project goals were to
- identify
all the approximately 20,000-25,000 genes in human DNA,
- determine
the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make
up human DNA,
- store this
information in databases,
- improve tools
for data analysis,
- transfer
related technologies to the private sector, and
- address the
ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) that may arise from
the project.
Though the HGP is finished,
analyses of the data will continue for many years. Follow this
ongoing research on our Milestones
page. An important feature of the HGP project was the federal
government's long-standing dedication to the transfer
of technology to the private sector. By licensing technologies
to private companies and awarding grants for innovative research,
the project catalyzed the multibillion-dollar U.S. biotechnology
industry and fostered the development of new medical applications.
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OF INTEREST |
Battelle Report: $3.8 Billion Investment in HGP Drove $796 Billion in Economic Impact, Created Jobs, and Launched Genomic Revolution (May 2011); See Response From Nature (May 11, 2011)
Gene Patent Ruling Raises Questions for Industry (Nov. 2, 2010, NYT)
New Gene Tests Aimed at Reducing Colon Cancer (Oct. 28, 2010, NYT)
The Once and Future Genome (June 25, 2010, Seed Magazine)
Biology 2.0 Special Report on the Human Genome (June 17, 2010, The Economist)
The Genome at 10: Two-part article (June 12 and June 14, 2010, NYT)
Human Genome at 10: 5 Breakthroughs, 5 Predictions (Mar. 31, 2010, National Geographic)
Disease Cause is Pinpointed with Gene (Mar. 10, 2010, NYT)
Cost
of Decoding a Genome is Lowered (Aug. 10, 2009,
NYT)
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What's
next? |
A
systems biology program using genomic data and high-throughput
technologies for studying the proteins encoded by microbial
and plant genomes to develop a predictive understanding
of the biological systems relevant to solving energy and
environmental challenges including bioenergy production,
environmental remediation, and carbon cycling.
genomicscience.energy.gov
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