The Human Genome Project (HGP), conducted from 1990 to 2003, aimed to map and sequence the entire human genome, providing the data freely to the public to enhance understanding of genes and disease. The project involved collaboration between 20 institutes worldwide and utilized advanced sequencing technologies, completing the initial draft by June 2000 and the final sequence in April 2003. Subsequent projects, such as the HapMap and 1000 Genomes Project, continued to explore genetic variations and their implications for health.

1. HUMAN
GENOME
PROJECT
Carol Zubiría for SCW 2012-13

2. Human genome: more than 3M "letters" A,C, T & G
First mapped and sequenced: from 1990 to 2003.
The Human Genome Project (HGP) international initiative
Sequencing the human genome:
●identify important genes and regulatory regions.
●better understand their role in disease.
●investigate our origins using variations in the DNA
sequence.
Introduction

3. Introduction
Like 200 yellow pages books.

4. ●HGP aim: sequence the entire human genome
and provide the data free to the world.
●First major global collaboration of its kind and the
largest biological research project ever
undertaken, involving thousands of staff in
institutes across the globe.
●By assigning different portions of the genome to
different research groups in a coordinated and
efficient way, the HGP researchers were able to
What was the Human Genome Project?

5. What was the Human Genome Project?

6. Twenty institutes from six different countries
(China, France, Germany, Japan, UK and USA)
●Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
●Washington University School of Medicine
●Whitehead Institute/MIT centre for Genome
research
●The DOE’s Joint Genome Institute
●Baylor College of Medicine
Who took part in the project?

7. ●Sequencing technology: only a few hundred
base pairs of DNA at a time.
●It had to be broken up into small pieces for
sequencing → giant jigsaw puzzle.
●First 200,000 base pair sections (clones)
●Inserted into bacterial DNA, living libraries of
the DNA clones.
●Shipped between collaborating institutes.
●Clones then broken into smaller pieces
(4000-6000 base pairs).
How was the human genome sequenced?

8. ●Clones then broken into smaller pieces
(4000-6000 base pairs)
●Re-inserted into bacteria
●Cultured to make enough DNA for
sequencing.
●Bacterial colonies transferred to tubes →
lysed → DNA extracted.
●Sanger sequencing method.
●Resulting data pieced together to form the
whole genome sequence.
How was the human genome sequenced?

9. How was the human genome sequenced?

10. ●HGP took 13 years.
●Expected more than 15 years.
●Started: October 1990
●First “draft”: June 2000
●Finished sequence: April 2003
●Published: 2004.
●Work continues to refine the “reference”
human genome sequence.
How long did the HGP take?

11. ●Put simply, everyone.
●Provide free and open access to the data
for everyone in the scientific community and
the public domain.
●Deposited in freely available, online public
databases.
●Genome browsers: www.ensembl.org
●Access to more than 50 species’ genomes.
Who has access to the human genome data?

12. ●Officially finished.
●Research continues on the human reference
sequence.
●Filling in the “gaps” in the sequence.
●SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms):
Genetic variation differences in single bases.
What happened after the HGP was finished?

13. ●HapMap project: 3 year → chart the patterns of
genetic variation common in the world’s population.
●Results 2005 simplify studies to understand how
genetic variation contributes to health and disease.
What happened after the HGP was finished?

14. ●International research consortium.
●Launched in January 2008.
●Aim: to sequence the genomes of at least a
thousand people from around the world, to
identify very clearly those variations
between individuals that are medically
important and map these on the genome.
1000 Genomes Project

15. ●HGP 13 years Billions $
●Watson 2007 4 months $1M
●Helicos 2009 1 month $ 48.000
●Now 1 or 2 weeks 6.000 €
Genome sequencing Evolution
€

16. How are genes activated?
Genes regulation by regulatory regions.
8.4 M (10 to 20 letters) identified.
Variations in regulatory regions: high risk
diseases.
Gene therapy
Genome sequencing NOW