2006 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript
This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2006. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.
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how long did it take to make the map of all the base sequences?
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David Bodine, M.D., Ph.D.: Years. When I was a student 1n 1984, we used to laugh about the foolishness of even talking about sequencing the three billion bases ofthe human genome. There was no map, there was no way to get any sequence except for a very laborious process. However, things happened fast and by 1988, the process began, and the progress was fascinating. The map was a critical first step, and that was done in the late 90's. That way you know which part of the genome you are looking at. The big technology here was the development of the polymerase chain reaction which allowed a rapid way to survey the genome, and the ability to clone large regions of DNA. When the map was done, the DNA sequencing process had been automated to the point that it was possible to do the final sequencing in a matter of months. |
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