Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project (HGP, Eng. Human Genome Project) was an international research project. It was founded in autumn 1990 with the aim to fully decipher the human genome, ie the sequence of base pairs of human DNA to identify their individual chromosomes by sequencing. The human genome contains all of the hereditary information. With the base pairs of its DNA to encode all the proteins, among others. The complete sequencing of the genome is the basis for the study of many biological processes, such as the opportunity to explore and better understand molecular mechanisms of cancer genetic diseases. By comparing the human genome with that of other living things, scientists also hope to further insights into the origin of certain diseases and new treatment options.
Objectives of the project
The objectives of the project were:
- To identify all of the genes of the human;
- To find the sequence of the 3 billion base pairs of DNA;
- Relevant technologies, such as data analysis, develop and improve;
- Ethical, legal and social issues that would occur as a result of the project to address.
History
The project was founded in the USA in October 1990 as a project of a publicly funded international research network. The HGP was led initially by James Watson, one of the discoverers of DNA structure. In 1992, he left the project but after a dispute with NIH Bernadine Healy - chief because he refused Healy's attempts to patent gene sequences. His successor was the renowned geneticist Francis Collins. Participated in the project at the beginning of more than 1,000 scientists in 40 countries taking part. The aim was to sequence the human genome to 2005. 1992 published the project genetic maps for chromosomes 21 and Y. In June 1995, Germany also joined the international Human Genome Project Human Genome Organisation and took his job a year later on. The German Human Genome Project ( DHGP ) is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the German Research Foundation. The Human Genome Organisation got 1998 private by the newly formed U.S. company Celera competition. By 1999, the sequencing of chromosome 22, 2000 was carried out the chromosome 21 fully sequenced, making the possibilities for research into the effects of trisomy 21 grew.
The HGP was in the public its preliminary climax when in 2001, independently by two research companies, the complete sequencing of the human genome was announced, which was often referred to as " decoding" dubbed in the media.
2003, the completion in the context of the applied standards was finally announced. The German Human Genome Project successfully completed in June 2004 its activities. Building on the work of the German Human Genome Project, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research since 2001, the National Genome Research Network ( NGFN). The focus of the work is the study of the genetic causes of common diseases. As a follow-up project, the ENCODE project was started by the National Human Genome Research Institute ( NHGRI ).
Since April 2003, the human genome is officially decoded as complete. Although the significance of all genes is not yet known, but these are explored in subsequent projects of HGPs since 2003.
Overall, the human genome contains approximately 20,000 to 30,000 genes. At the beginning of at least 100,000 genes were still expected to be able to encode all the features of the human body can.
Future tasks
Based on the research of the human genome project, there are many other research projects, such as the 1000 Genomes Project.
In the development of almost all hereditary diseases, several genes are involved. Here, research is now faced with the task of long-term to clarify their interaction in detail and to develop appropriate drugs.
After the deciphering of the genome, there is now also the efforts of all the DNA modifications, as well as the transcriptome, proteome and metabolome of humans to decipher.