Far Eastern

University
Institute of Nursing

International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium

To start, a genome is the entire or the complete set of an organism’s DNA, including its
genes. Our genes are complex to understand, a decade ago, most scientists thought that humans
had about 100,000 genes yet the human genome project sequence the entire human genome in over
fifteen years with 3 billion dollars on public funds, this is according to the research video of Ted-
Education. On the other hand, the International Genome Sequencing Consortium is found and led
by the National Human Genome Research Institute known as NHGRI including the Department
of Energy (DOE). They published the scientific description of the finished human genome
sequence, reducing it by the estimated number protein-coding genes from 35,000 to only 20,000-
25,000.
This project has its own central goals, it is focused on identification of all genes also known
as stretches od DNA that contains code for particular proteins. There are confirmed existence of
19,599 protein-coding genes in the human genome and 2,188 DNA segments that are protein-
coding genes. Even the NHGRI Director, Francis S. Collins stated that "The availability of the
highly accurate human genome sequence in free public databases enables researchers around the
world to conduct even more precise studies of our genetic instruction book and how it influences
health and disease." With that said, the human genome project is actually useful and helpful to get
to know more about our entire genes, what we can contribute using those genes, how it can help
science, also we may even discover new diseases by simply researching about the complexity of
our genome, it also does influence health and disease.
There are also more advantages that this Human Genome Project has created, it has allowed
the researchers to simply understand more about individuals, the blueprint for building an
individual. This type of research will also have a big impact on medicine, biotechnology, and life
sciences. This is literally about what are we made of, the genes, the whole genome, this whole
project is for the continuous research of the make up of humans, this may even seek answers to
certain questions about the build up of mankind, not only mankind but the whole living species
here on Earth.
Now to question about ethics, the human genome project made it clear that privacy and
fairness in the use of genetic information is applied, such as: the integration of new genetic
technologies, hence, genetic testing is made for the practice of clinical medicine. The design and
conduct of genetic research with people have informed consent, and the education and the
information of healthcare professionals, policy makers, students and the public about genetics and
the complex issues that result from genomic research are safe and secure and cannot be used
against an individual as it is their privacy.

References used:
Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications U.S. National Library of Medicine,
National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services Published on (March 31,
2020)
International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium. Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the
human genome. Nature. 431:931-945. DOI:10.1038/nature03001. Retrieved from:
https://www.broadinstitute.org/news/international-human-genome-sequencing-consortium-
describes-finished-human-genome-sequence