Evaluating the U.S. Human Genome Project

This book Evaluating the U.S. Human Genome Projectpresents a comprehensive policy appraisal of alarge-scale science program. Sponsored in the UnitedStates by the National Institutes of Health andDepartment of Energy the Human Genome Project (HGP)endeavored to sequence a reference human genome. Agenome is the complete set of DNA comprised ofnucleotide bases: adenine thymine cytosine andguanine in a cell's nucleus. The HGP's scientificgoal was to determine the order of these chemicalbases within the 23 pairs of chromosomes. Projectpromoters justified the public investment $3.3billion with assurances that the HGP would lead topublic health benefits. Project leaders also pledgedto address harms of genome research and technology byestablishing Ethical Legal and Social Implicationsprograms. Though a scientific success the HGP hasnot lived up to common interest expectations. TheHGP's technical design facilitated efficientsequencing but isolated the project from its largersocial context and excluded non-scientiststakeholders from decision making. The book offersrecommendations to help human genome research andtechnology serve its public purposes.