Human Genome Project (HGP)

In 1990, the Human Genome Project (HGP) led by the International Human Genome Consortium, was launched to map the human genome. The genome is defined as set of genes in a cell or living thing. The project envisaged mapping of the human genome in a period of 15 years. The consortium announced on April 14, 2003 the finished sequence. The finished sequence is highly accurate, in the sense that there is an error probability of around 1 letter for every 10,000. This means that we have now an accurate map of over 99.99% of the human genome i.e. over 3 billion DNA letters, leaving just around 0.01% i.e. 1 million DNA letters to be deciphered. The Human Genome Project involves four major lines of work, which are:

Genetic (linkage) mapping of the human genome: To map the human genome, scientists combine linkage, pedigree analysis and restriction fragment analysis.

Physical mapping of the human genome: This is done by breaking each chromosome into a number of identifiable fragments with the help of restriction enzyme, and then determining the order of the fragments in the chromosomes.

Sequencing the human genome: This is the process of determining the exact order of nucleotide pairs of each chromosome.

Analyzing the genome of other species: Comparative analysis of the genes of other species e.g. E. coli, yeast, a plant named Arabidopsis Drosophila and mice, will help us to interpret the human data.

Genetic Map of X Chromosome

The DNA sequence of human chromosome no, one of the smallest human chromosome has been completed in 1999. The human genome is 25 times larger than any other genome sequenced so far. The potential benefit of having a complete map of the human genome are great. For basic science, the information will give insight into such fundamental mysteries as embryonic development and evolution. For human health, the identification of genes will aid in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of many of common diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes etc.