Wrap Up

The Human Genome Project was an ambitious endeavor that focused on documenting a complete and accurate sequence of the three billion DNA base pairs that make up the human genome. The project also aimed to decode other genome sequences, such as those of the mouse and the fruit fly, both of which are important to medical science. With the completion of the Human Genome Project, scientists can now investigate the role of each gene in the human body and how mutations to genes cause genetic disorders. As more of the genes’ responsibilities are discovered, scientists can create antidotes or treatments for specific genetic diseases. Some of these advances currently exist today in what is referred to as gene therapy. For example, scientists can already add better traits to combat certain diseases in humans, but only to non-reproductive cells.