The Great Exploration Of Human Body

In 1900, humans began one of the great feats of exploration in history. This feat did not include the exploration of the planets or the universe, rather an inward voyage to discover the great depths of the human body.

What is HGP?

The Human Genome Project also known as HGP was a great step in the great fields of biology. It was an effort done by the U.S. Department of Energy to explore the intricate knowledge of genes. It was mainly to explore the sequence of the human genome and identify the genes that it contains. Manu contributors from many countries were involved in this project such as The United States, France, Germany, China, The United Kingdom and Japan. The ambitious project launched in begging of the 1990s and ended in 2003. This huge project was able to successfully determine the sequences of genes, and almost all genetic content in the human species, also known as the genome.

What were the project’s goals?

The project had set many goals before launching this project, but the main goal of the Human Genome Project was to provide a complete and thorough sequence of 3 billion DNA base pairs that make up the human genome. This project also included the investigation of the estimated 20,000 to 25,000 human genes. The projects’ goals also included the development of the tools for data analysis. The Project also aimed to study the DNA sequence of many animals that are very helpful in studies such as mice and fruit flies. In addition, the Human Genome Project successfully created physical and genetic maps of the human genome. Many goals placed in 1988, considered not possible, were done successfully. Examples include the blueprints of the mouse and rat genomes.

What is meant by ELSI?

The Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications program acted as an integral part of the Human Genome Project in being able to answer the world’s moral concerns that are based on this project. The ELSL focused on the possible consequences of genomic research in four very important categories:

• Ethical concerns that surround the study (Including informed consent).
• Privacy of the participants’ genetic information
• The integration of new technologies, such as testing
• Healthcare professionals' education

Applications of HGP:

Scientists conducted research and found out that the differences of chromosomes from one human to another is less than 0.1 percent, knowing these differences can really help scientists find the origin of most of the heritable diseases. The HGP has been a fruitful project. It has fueled many innovations in medicine, biotechnology, and many more.

Medicine:

The successes in medicine due to the Human Genome Project are countless. The project opened up a world of knowledge to the scientific community. These successes include the cloning of the genes responsible for cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, neurofibromatosis and many more. Scientists were also able to understand the pathology of many such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Using this knowledge has led us to find cures and better manage our patients.

Energy:

The project has been essential for the improvement of the fossil-fuel based resource. There are many problems regarding the way we think of energy today, but scientists believe that HGP could be very helpful for providing a cleaner means for the bioconversion of raw materials to refined products.

Importance of HGP in education:

The Human Genome Project has been an amazing project with many great benefits to everyone, but the main benefit was for education. HGP has caused an educational revolution and has expanded what we know as students, doctors, professors and scholars. It has allowed us to understand the blueprint for building a person. As we progress as humans and learn more about ourselves, we are able to build a better life on this planet.