1. Explore

The Human Genome Project officially started in 1990 and had five main goals:

• Identify all the genes in human DNA
• Determine the sequence of approximately 3 billion DNA base pairs
• Store genetic information in public databases
• Improve tools for analyzing genetic data
• Address ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) related to genome research (Collins et al., 2003)

The project was a global collaboration. Scientists from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and China worked together. More than 20 research institutions participated, forming the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium. This large-scale cooperation showed how international teamwork can accelerate scientific progress.

^{Figure 2. President Bill Clinton and Dr. Francis Collins at the White House in 2000 announcing the human genome draft. Source: NHGRI Photo Archive.}