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The Human Genome Project is one of the most enterprising
and challenging aspects of modern genetic research.
Funded primarily by the US Government, this project
was created to map and sequence the entire human
genome--that is, to locate every gene on every human
chromosome. Although this may sound rather basic,
the enormity of it emerges when one realizes just
how lengthy the human genome actually is. It is
estimated that anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000
genes exist! And scientists not only plan to map
the genes, but also intend to sequence the 3 billion
DNA amino acid “building blocks” that make each
gene! It would take thirteen full-volumed encyclopedia
sets or 200 Manhattan phone books to equal the amount
of genetic information the project scientists plan
to organize. It is, therefore, easy to understand
why this is a national effort. The project is directed
by Dr. Francis Collins (who with Dr. Francis Crick
in 1953 deciphered the DNA structure) of the National
Institute of Health. The Department of Energy is
also involved along with foreign countries as research
and money come from Japan, the United Kingdom, and
and other technologically advanced nations. Research
and data storage laboratories called Genome Centers
are scattered throughout the US from Berkeley, California
to Los Alamos. Many colleges and universities are
also involved including Stanford University, Baylor
College of Medicine, Washington University, and
the Universities of Utah, Texas, Washington, and
Wisconsin.
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