Are you ready for genomic medicine?

Abstract

In October 1989, the muchpublicised Human Genome Project was initiated. The main aims of the project were to chart the complete human genome by determining the sequences of the three billion chemical base pairs that make up human DNA and identify all genes in human DNA. This critical information would be stored in databases readily available to researchers, and the tools for analysing such data would be improved in order to facilitate and develop further research in the field of genetics. Key technology developed through this United States Federal Government-funded project would also be licensed to the private sector in order to kick-start genetics-related industries. It is common knowledge that the project was finished ahead of time in 2003, due to some key technological advances, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Watson and Crick’s description of the fundamental structure of DNA.