What is the Human Genome Project? DOE Human Genome Program 02.23.01 Begun formally in 1990, the U.S. Human Genome Project is a 13-year effort coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health. The project originally was planned to last 15 years, but rapid technological advances have accelerated the expected completion date to 2003. Project goals are to     identify all the approximately 30,000 genes in human DNA,     determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical bases that make up human DNA,     store this information in databases,   develop faster, more efficient sequencing technologies, develop tools for data analysis, and     address the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) that may arise from the project.   To help achieve these goals, researchers also are studying the genetic makeup of several nonhuman organisms. These include the common human gut bacterium Escherichia coli, the fruit fly, and the laboratory mouse.     A unique aspect of the U.S. Human Genome Project is that it is the first large scientific undertaking to address the ELSI implications that may arise from the project.     Another important feature of the project is the federal government's long-standing dedication to the transfer of technology to the private sector. By licensing technologies to private companies and awarding grants for innovative research, the project is catalyzing the multibillion-dollar U.S. biotechnology industry and fostering the development of new medical applications.   DOE Human Genome Program  www.ornl.gov/hgmis. ©2001 The Aurora Collection, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Site Development by: Interactive Multimedia. Inc.