Human Genome Project Information

The Human Genome Program of the U.S. Department of Energy funds this suite of Web sites.

Gene
Gateway
tools for exploring the sequence

The Genomes to Life program is DOE's next step in genomics--building on data and resources from the Human Genome Project, the Microbial Genome Program, and systems biology to accelerate understanding of dynamic living systems.

DOE HGP-Sponsored PBS Three-Part Series

Welcome! Explore this site for information about the U.S. and worldwide Human Genome Project.

Begun in 1990, the U.S. Human Genome Project is a 13-year effort coordinated by the Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health. The project originally was planned to last 15 years, but effective resource and technological advances have accelerated the expected completion date to 2003. Project goals are to

identify all the approximately 30,000 genes in human DNA,
determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up human DNA,
store this information in databases,
improve tools for data analysis,
transfer related technologies to the private sector, and
address the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) that may arise from the project.

Several types of genome maps have already been completed, and a working draft of the entire human genome sequence was announced in June 2000, with analyses published in February 2001. An important feature of this project is the federal government's long-standing dedication to the transfer of technology to the private sector. By licensing technologies to private companies and awarding grants for innovative research, the project is catalyzing the multibillion-dollar U.S. biotechnology industry and fostering the development of new medical applications.