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| Human Genome Project |
Genome can be defined as the genetic material contained in an organism. It is a complete set of DNA which includes all of it's genes. Each genome has all the information needed to assemble and retain the organism. In order to have a clear understanding what it genome all about, a Human Genome Project was launched.
Human Genome Project was first launched in 1990 through the funding from the United State National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Energy. This Human Genome Project is a project that teachers people to learn about human genome. By learning this human genome, it allows a better understanding on human health as well as gaining benefits from it too. Not only that, this Human Genome Project also allows researchers to gain more knowledge regarding the functions of the genes and the proteins where these knowledge can be used in variety of fields such as in the medical field.
There two major goals of Human Genome Project. The major goals are shown as below:
1) To develop the detailed maps of the genes' location in the human genome and also in the genome of other organisms.
2) To find out what is the sequence of the coded information found in the DNA of different types of genomes and then identifying all the human genes.
1) To develop the detailed maps of the genes' location in the human genome and also in the genome of other organisms.
2) To find out what is the sequence of the coded information found in the DNA of different types of genomes and then identifying all the human genes.
Other goals of Human Genome project are to store these gained information in databases, to improve the tools used for analysis data and also to deal with ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) that occur from the project itself.
Human Genome Project has given a great impact in the economic. One of the great impact is that there is a development in the industry of genomics. This is due to the requirement of equipments and technologies needed in the project of Human Genome.
Limitation of Human Genome Project
- By determining the DNA sequence contained in the human genome through Human Genome Project, it cannot determine everything about an organism. For an example, it cannot predict it's appearance.
Implications of Human Genome Project
There are many implications of Human Genome Project. The implications are as follows :
(a) Human Diseases
Human Genome Project was used to collect information about the genes that involved in the human diseases. Nowadays, researchers are able to make use of Human Genome Project in finding the gene that is suspected of causing a specific disease.
(b) Genetic Testing
Results from Human Genome Project has lead to the development of genetic tests for inherited human diseases and disorders which allows patients to know what are their risks of developing certain kind of diseases.
(c) Stem Cell Research
Stem cells are unspecialized cells that are capable to develop different types of specialized cells which are able to treat incurable diseases.
(d) Biomedical Products
Many technologies that uses living cells or biological molecules have been designed since Human Genome Project was completed. These technologies are very important and useful because it helps in treating and also preventing inherited disorders and even certain kind of cancer.
(e) Genetic Modification
Scientists use Human Genome Project to identify the genes and also it's function in order to do genetic modification.
Human Genome Project is also important in pharmacogentics. Pharmacogenetics is the study of inherited differences that cause variation in drug metabolism and response. Benefit of pharmacogenetics is that it optimize the drug therapy and also it limit the toxicity of drugs according to an individual's genetic make up.
Hence, Human Genome Project is known to be very useful to researchers especially for future needs.
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