February 29th 1988: National
Institutes of Health Director James
Wyngaarden assembles scientists,
administrators and science policy
experts to plan the human genome
project. A 15 year plan was laid out.
October 1st 1988: The Office for Human Genome Research
is created within the Office of the Director, National
Instituteof Health. Also, NIH and the Department of
Energy sign a memorandum of understanding to
"coordinate research and technical activities related to the
human genome."
October 1st 1990: Human
genome project officially
commences after arranging a
specific 5 year plan
October 1st
1993: the five
year plan is
revised over the
year due to fast
progress in
research
September 30, 1994: Human genetic mapping goal
achieved one year ahead of schedule.
April, 1996: Human DNA sequencing begins
with pilot studies at six universities in the
United States. and an international team
completes the DNA sequence of the first
eukaryotic genome, Saccharomyces
cerevisiae, or common brewer's yeast. human
genome is being sequenced by universities
and otrher research groups
1999: large scale sequencing begins
2001: human genome is mapped out in its entirety
Practical uses
Usefull to discover the cause of inherited diseases
and allowing better diagnosis and treatment for
them when someone is born
Finding genes which cause traits
such as susceptibility to cancers
or degenerative diseases.
directs research in gene
therapy and genetic
engineering - we can find
out the gene's locus to
remove a mutated gene and
replace it with a functioning
one.