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14/04/2003
Human genome map hailed as 'revolution' for medicine
In a move that has been hailed as "revolutionary progress", scientists have announced today that they have finally mapped the genetic code for human life – known as the Human Genome Project.
As a result of today's news, scientists hope that a greater understanding of the human genome could reduce the spread of diseases, improve health and generally enhance quality of life.
Science Minister Lord Sainsbury said that the UK was the "largest contributor" to the project, with one third of the human genome sequenced in the UK at the Wellcome Trust's Sanger Institute.
He added: "The completion of the Human Genome Project marks a landmark in international scientific endeavour for the benefit of all humanity. The UK is a world leader in the field of biotechnology, both in terms of scientific research and its commercial exploitation.
"I congratulate all the scientists involved across the world on their remarkable achievement, and wish them every future success in taking this exciting work forward."
Today's announcement comes 50 years after the double helix structure of DNA was first discovered in the UK by Crick and Watson – the genome is all the DNA in an organism, including its genes. The human genome itself is comprised of a sequence of three billion base pairs of DNA.
In 1990 it was estimated that the project would take 15 years to complete, but advances in technology have allowed the project to be completed ahead of schedule and under budget.
The project is the result of a joint venture between hundreds of scientists from China, France, Germany, Japan, the UK and US – the governments of which issued a joint proclamation earlier today marking the accomplishment.
The statement read: "This genetic sequence provides us with the fundamental platform for understanding ourselves, from which revolutionary progress will be made in biomedical sciences and in the health and welfare of human kind.
"Thus, we take today an important step towards establishing a healthier future for all the peoples of the globe, for whom the human genome serves as a common inheritance."
Research enabled by the discovery of DNA's structure and the Human Genome Project includes – the study of human sequence variation and its involvement in cancerous tumour formation; and the identification of variation in genes that increase the risk of behavioural disturbance in vulnerable children.
There is also the prospect of personalised medicine, which means that both the course of treatment and the drugs prescribed will be tailored to suit the individual's genetic make-up.
All the data produced by the Human Genome Project is now freely available on the internet.
(GMcG)
As a result of today's news, scientists hope that a greater understanding of the human genome could reduce the spread of diseases, improve health and generally enhance quality of life.
Science Minister Lord Sainsbury said that the UK was the "largest contributor" to the project, with one third of the human genome sequenced in the UK at the Wellcome Trust's Sanger Institute.
He added: "The completion of the Human Genome Project marks a landmark in international scientific endeavour for the benefit of all humanity. The UK is a world leader in the field of biotechnology, both in terms of scientific research and its commercial exploitation.
"I congratulate all the scientists involved across the world on their remarkable achievement, and wish them every future success in taking this exciting work forward."
Today's announcement comes 50 years after the double helix structure of DNA was first discovered in the UK by Crick and Watson – the genome is all the DNA in an organism, including its genes. The human genome itself is comprised of a sequence of three billion base pairs of DNA.
In 1990 it was estimated that the project would take 15 years to complete, but advances in technology have allowed the project to be completed ahead of schedule and under budget.
The project is the result of a joint venture between hundreds of scientists from China, France, Germany, Japan, the UK and US – the governments of which issued a joint proclamation earlier today marking the accomplishment.
The statement read: "This genetic sequence provides us with the fundamental platform for understanding ourselves, from which revolutionary progress will be made in biomedical sciences and in the health and welfare of human kind.
"Thus, we take today an important step towards establishing a healthier future for all the peoples of the globe, for whom the human genome serves as a common inheritance."
Research enabled by the discovery of DNA's structure and the Human Genome Project includes – the study of human sequence variation and its involvement in cancerous tumour formation; and the identification of variation in genes that increase the risk of behavioural disturbance in vulnerable children.
There is also the prospect of personalised medicine, which means that both the course of treatment and the drugs prescribed will be tailored to suit the individual's genetic make-up.
All the data produced by the Human Genome Project is now freely available on the internet.
(GMcG)
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