Genome
The Human Genome Project began in 1990 in the United States as an attempt to identify all of the genes in a human cell. While the U.S. began its efforts in the 90’s, many countries including France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom started programs in an unofficial collaboration to speed up the process. In addition, private companies including Genomics and Celera are currently working on sequencing the human genome.
There is an estimated 140,000 genes in the nucleus of a human cell. As of the year 2000, the Project had mapped more than 9,000 genes to specific chromosomes and was already ahead of schedule with 17% completed. The Program had also finished sequencing the complete genome of human chromosome 22 in addition to complete organisms, such as E. Coli (Escherichia coli), yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), the roundworm (Caenorhabditis elegans), and the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster). The purpose of sequencing the genes of other organisms would be to determine any possible similarities between their genes and human genes. The Project has already determined the specific genes associated with cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease, neurofibromatosis, and retinoblastoma.
A popular analogy is used to explain the relationship between chromosomes, DNA, and genes. In a library, or a human body, there are 46 books, or chromosomes. 23 of the books are from your mother, the egg, and the other 23 books are from your father, the sperm. The chromosomes are made up of a coiled chain of DNA, short for deoxyribonucleic acid. The DNA is composed of smaller segments called genes. The genes are the words in the book. The genes are made up of letters called nucleotides. There are four letters, A (adenine), T (thymine), C (cytosine), and G (guanine). On the strand of DNA, each nucleotide matches up with another. Adenine pairs with thymine; and cytosine pairs with guanine. The genome project hopes to sequence the order of these nucleotides.
The sequence of the genes is what makes us what we are. They code for height, hair color, and even genetic diseases. The purpose in determining the order is to assist in curing genetic diseases by creating treatments and medicines, correcting fatal errors in the genetic code, and to have an overall better understanding of the human body. ...