History Of The Human Genome Project

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics all play a huge role in the daily lives of so many people around the globe. However, life was not always so technologically and scientifically established and only recent developments have allowed it to fully emerge into what it has become today. Much of these advancements can be attributed to the wildly successful Human Genome Project. This project, that anticipated to map the entirety of the human genome, created reason for advancements in DNA technologies and research techniques. Mainly developed in the 1980s, this project was ahead of its time in terms of bioinformatics, scientific approaches, and general knowledge in the field of genetics. The Human Genome Project sparked a revolution in

This mass involvement inspired a foreign sense of teamwork between scientists. The research project “involved 20 large sequencing centers in six countries and a host of other labs working on small projects,” (Urry 344). This was unheard of in the field of science, as historically, individuals worked on their own with minimal or no assistance from others. The Human Genome Project entirely revamped this idea of individualism in science and promoted a new wave of teamwork and collaboration (Green, Watson, Collins 1). The scientists came to the realization that their work would be more enabled with the help from others around the world who may have different perspectives on challenging topics. Without cooperation from a multitude of contributors around the world, the Human Genome Project would have never been able to advance technology, science, and even teamwork in the way that it

This project became more than just sequencing the entire human genome, which was a difficult feat on its own. It became focused on benefitting society and supporting the greater good. Those who were worried about government spending ultimately had nothing to fret about because “for every $1 invested by the federal government, the Human Genome Project's impact has resulted in the return of $141 to the U.S. economy,” (“Human Genome Project Produces Many Benefits”). The genome project ultimately contributed much more than its fair share to society and did not cause an unpayable government debt as many predicted. Molecular medicine was propelled ahead by the findings of the Human Genome Project. Advancements in this area of study could mean “better diagnosis of disease, early detection of certain diseases, and gene therapy and control systems for drugs,” (Melaas). Consequently, diagnosis of a disease could be cheaper and more effective in the long run, as physicians will be more knowledgeable of the early signs and symptoms of a disease and cause less patient stress by diagnosing them accurately. This is a large step ahead for medicine because many issues and complications result from indecisiveness and incorrect diagnoses. The Human Genome Project directly produced a plethora of societal benefits that continue to pay both