On-Ramp to Biology
Chapter 7 - DNA, Genes, and Chromosomes
The Human Genome Project is an ambitious collaborative effort to map the entire human genome. This means sequencing every one of the 30,000 human genes—more than 3 billion base pairs. That's a lot of As, Ts, Cs, and Gs!
To get an overview of the history of the Human Genome Project, its goals, and its past achievements, visit History of the Human Genome Project. For a full understanding of the project, visit Nature magazine's Genome Gateway.
A project this big requires cooperation, and reseachers all over the world are taking part. Fortunately, the internet allows researchers at distant locations to easily share their results. Valuable information about the Human Genome Project can be found at the following sites:
Human Genome Project Information site, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.
The Human Genome Organisation, an international group of scientists involved in the Human Genome Project.
Human Genome Project Working Draft, with links to the current draft of the human genome.
Although the Human Genome Project promises to provide a wealth of information about human genetics, it is also raising serious questions. Who owns the rights to genetic therapies developed using the tissues of specific individuals? Is there a right to genetic privacy? Questions such as these are now being discussed on the internet. You can learn more about the ethical implications of the Human Genome Project at The Center for Bioethics. This center provides a forum for a discussion of ethics and genetics. It's a great place to learn about the issues.
Download a PDF copy of Your Genes, Your Choices. This publication describes the Human Genome Project, the science behind it, and the ethical, legal, and social issues that it raises. Written as part of the Science Literacy for Health project of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), it is easy to understand and includes a glossary.
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