The Human Genome Project

  1: What is the public project for sequencing the human genome?
  2: Has the human genome been completely sequenced?
  3: How many genes do humans have?
  4: Why is it so difficult to find the genes in a human genome sequence?
  5: Where did the sequenced human DNA come from?
  6: Is the human genome “freely available”? If not, who owns it?
  7: Why was there a Human Genome Project What is its use?
  8: Who were the members of the international consortium What was the role of each of them?
  9: What was the French contribution to the Human Genome Project?
  10: How much did the Human Genome Project cost?
  11: With the end of the Human Genome Project, are the large sequencing centers still useful?

  The human genome sequence which is accessible in databases today is as complete as current techniques permit. It corresponds essentially to the “sequencable” portion of the genome, that which contains the quasi-totality of the genes. This fraction of the genome, which is called the euchromatin, represents 2.9 billion nucleotides, or 90% of the 3.2 billion nucleotides of the ensemble of the human genome. It has been sequenced to 99% completion (the remaining 1% corresponds to several hundred gaps which scientists have been unable to fill).The portion of the genome which is not included in the Human Genome Project is called heterochromatin. This region contains highly repetitive DNA sequences—it is very monotonous and contains practically no genes. Heterochromatin is found notably at the chromosomal structures called centromeres, as well as at the extremities of the chromosomes, called telomeres. It is extremely difficult to sequence this very repetitive DNA using current techniques, which explains why it was neglected at first. However, these regions can be targeted for study, since they play an important role in chromosome function, and a few genes may be concealed in them.