The Human Genome Project: Implications for Health and Disability / Ethical, Legal and Social Issues

The Human Genome Project is an international collaborative effort by several major research institutions in the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and China, whose goal is the complete mapping and understanding of all the genes of human beings. All of our genes together are known as our "genome".

The purpose of this project is to speed up the process of identifying the tens of thousands of different genes in the human body, and to locate their place on the different chromosomes. This will result in a "map" of the genome, and from this information it will be possible to learn more about the role of genes and the whole genome, in health and disease.

In February 2001 the first draft of the human genome was published in the Journal Nature, and this showed that the 90% complete draft of the genome had between 30,000 and 40,000 genes. A final draft is due in 2003.

Follow these links to read our comments about the implications for health and disability, and the ethical, legal and social issues, or go the the following sites for more information:

Introduction to the Human Genome Project - from the site of the National Human Genome Research Institute.
Issues in Genetics and Health - an introduction to the ethical, legal and social issues from NHGRI.
Medicine and the New Genetics - from the Human Genome information site of the US Department of Energy.
Ethical, Legal and Social Issues - also from the US DOE.
Facts Sheets - from NHGRI give detailed summary information about the Project, the technology and the Issues.