The Human
Genome Program
"To Know Ourselves"

The Human Genome Project Lead: S.J. Spengler, Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 510-486-4879; SJSpengler@lbl.gov The human genome is the full complement of the genetic information of a single cell. The Human Genome Project, begun by the Department of Energy in 1986, has become a world-wide program to: put markers of different types on each of the 24 kinds of human chromosomes; sequence all 3 billion of the 4 kinds of nucleotides in these chromosomes; identify all of the genes; use model organisms such as the mouse when appropriate; make the data useful and available to the public; and identify and address the ethical, legal, and social issues associated with having this information. With eight and a half years remaining to finish the job, the Project has been successful in mapping chromosomes and identifying issues of societal concern, but has only just begun to sequence. DOE will use the Joint Genome Institute as a focus for the three national laboratory Human Genome Centers to undertake high throughput sequencing, with the goal of completing 25% of the entire human genome by 2005. In addition to the Centers, DOE supports genome research in academic institutions across the country. Over 350 researchers attended the most recent meeting of the Program's contractors and grantees. The DOE budget for the project is $78M in the current fiscal year. Contributors: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: L. Ashworth; 510-422-5665; ashworth1@llnl.gov. Los Alamos National Laboratory: L. Clark; 505-667-9376; lynnclark@telomere.lanl.gov. Joint Genome Institute: E. Branscomb; 510-422-5681; branscomb1@llnl.gov.

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