By Kelly Song
Background Information:
The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international collaborative research program dedicated to sequencing and mapping all of the genes within the human body (all genes together are called genomes, hence the “Human Genome Project”). Countries like the USA, Japan, Germany, China, UK, and France all participated. The project originally started in October of 1990 and ended in April of 2003, finishing two years ahead of schedule and using only $2.7 billion compared to the estimated $3 billion! Along with the incredibly dedicated team of scientists, technology aided the long and tedious work of deciphering all the gene sequences.
Aid of Technology:
The Sanger sequencing method is the basis of modern computer automated sequencing techniques and was something that benefited the Human Genome Project immensely. This method works by detecting the fluorescent dye placed on specific nucleotides of a DNA sequence when replicated, allowing scientists to quickly and accurately sequence genes. The Sanger method is still important and used, as it is preferred for its sequencing of genes, cost-efficient sequencing of single samples, accuracy in the analysis of longer fragments, and overall suitability for routine validation of replicating experiments and PCR fragments.
Accomplishments of the Project:
The Human Genome Project was an overwhelming success. After 13 long years, the finished sequence produced and released by the HGP contained about 99% of the human genome and had an accuracy rate of 99.99%. The discoveries made by the HGP led to advancements in early detection and better diagnosis of diseases, gene therapy, and many more. Additionally, this project created an international collaboration on an unprecedented scale. Before, it was common for scientists to guard their discoveries so that they could be considered the “first”, but for this specific project, everyone shared what they had learned in order to focus on achieving the greater goal of becoming more knowledgeable about the human body. Not only that, the HGP regularly released information to the public.
The Human Genome Project was an extremely ambitious, but successful project that made important discoveries. Taking full advantage of all the technology present, the team was able to make advanced discoveries that would be further developed or researched by many other areas of science. HGP also demonstrates the power of collaboration and dedication.
Sources:
Https://Youtu.Be/AhsIF-CmoQQ.
https://www.yourgenome.org/stories/who-was-involved-in-the-human-genome-project
“The Human Genome Project.” Genome.Gov, 22 Dec. 2020, https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj6987
https://eurofinsgenomics.eu/en/eurofins-genomics/material-and-methods/sanger-sequencing/#:~:text=Sanger%20DNA%20sequencing%20is%20widely,%2Dgeneration%20sequencing%20(NGS)%20studies
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