"Nearly two centuries ago, in this room, on this floor, Thomas Jefferson and a trusted aide spread out a magnificent map -- a map Jefferson had long prayed he would get to see in his lifetime. The aide was Meriwether Lewis and the map was the product of his courageous expedition across the American frontier, all the way to the Pacific. It was a map that defined the contours and forever expanded the frontiers of our continent and our imagination. Today, the world is joining us here in the East Room to behold a map of even greater significance. We are here to celebrate the completion of the first survey of the entire human genome. Without a doubt, this is the most important, most wondrous map ever produced by humankind."
- Bill Clinton upon completion of the first Human Genome map
Since the time when Gregor Mendel studied the hereditary traits in 1865, scientists have been fascinated by the idea of learning more about genetics. The HGP can unearth mutations linked with genetic disorders that follow Mendelian inheritance patterns, such as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophies, and Huntington's disease. While Mendel researched mutations in genes, modern researchers of the HGP have effectively utilized his findings to advance in genetics.
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The roots of the HGP can be traced back to an initiative started by U.S. DOE in 1947. They were attempting to develop new energy resources. Finally in 1986 the DOE announced the HGP initiative.
The HGP has provided an spectacular and exceptional biological resource that will serve humanity for many generations to come.
"Mapping the human genome has been compared with putting a man on the moon, but I believe it is more than that. This is the outstanding achievement not only of our lifetime, but in terms of human history. A few months ago I compared the project to the invention of the wheel. On reflection, it is more than that. I can well imagine technology making the wheel obsolete. But this code is the essence of mankind, and as long as humans exists, this code is going to be important and will be used." -Thomas Michael (T. Michael) Dexter