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Human Genome Project

The Post-genomic Era

The race to completely sequence the human genome has lead to several concerns related to what to do with this information. Although the ELSI task force was created to address these concerns, many issues continue to arise resulting from the dissemination of this information. These issues include implications that impact the development of threatening biological weapons, genetic discrimination, eugenics, and human cloning to name a few. The magnitude of ramifications related to HGP achievements is just beginning to be realized. The next challenge in the post-genomic era is to annotate, or functionally characterize genes and to build on our understanding of gene-gene interactions, gene expression, and protein-protein interaction, and apply this knowledge to better understand life.

See also Chromosomal abnormalities; Chromosome mapping; Codons; DNA replication; DNA synthesis; Forensic science; Gene chips and microarrays; Gene mutation; Gene splicing; Gene therapy; Genetic engineering; Genetic identification of microorganisms; Genetic testing; Genetically modified foods and organisms; Genomics (comparative); Genotype and phenotype; Meiosis; Mendelian genetics; Shotgun cloning.


Resources

Books

Nussbaum, Robert L., Roderick R. McInnes, and Huntington F. Willard. Genetics in Medicine. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2001.

Rimoin, David L. Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2002.

Periodicals

International Human Genome Mapping Consortium. "A Physical Map of the Human Genome." Nature 409 (2001): 934–941.

International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium. "Initial Sequencing and Analysis of the Human Genome." Nature 409 (2001): 860–921.

Lennon, G., C. Auffray, M. Polymeropoulos,. M.B. Soares. "The I.M.A.G.E. Consortium: An Integrated Molecular Analysis of Genomes and Their Expression." Genomics 33 (1996): 1512.

Other

National Institutes of Health. "The National Human Genome Research Institute: Advancing Human Health Through Genetic Research." NHGRI. February 2003 [cited February 28, 2003]<http://www.genome.gov>.


Bryan Cobb

KEY TERMS

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Clone

—A cell or organism derived through asexual reproduction, and which contain the identical genetic information of the parent cell or organism.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

—The genetic material in a cell.

Eugenics

—A social movement in which the population of a society, country, or the world is to be improved by controlling the passing on of hereditary information through selective breeding.

Gene

—A discrete unit of inheritance, represented by a portion of DNA located on a chromosome. The gene is a code for the production of a specific kind of protein or RNA molecule, and therefore for a specific inherited characteristic.

Genome

—The complete set of genes an organism carries.

Polymorphism

—An variation in an individuals genetic material that is inherited in greater than 1% of the population and does not represent a spontaneous mutation.

Additional topics

Science EncyclopediaScience & Philosophy: Heterodyne to Hydrazoic acidHuman Genome Project - The Goals Of The Human Genome Project, Dna Sequencing Methodology, The Draft Sequence, The Dna Sequence: Is It Informative? - The timeline