The human genome contains most of the genetic information of human birth, aging, disease and death. Deciphering it will bring a revolution to the diagnosis of diseases, the development of new drugs and the exploration of new treatments.
The study of human genome is not only a scientific research, but also means that it will be the biggest business opportunity in 2 1 century. Gene is the source, growth point and commanding point of biopharmaceutical industry, and the technological expansion derived from gene will be the cornerstone for pharmaceutical enterprises to develop new products in the 2 1 century. Although the investment required by the gene industry is very large, and the exploration work is very difficult (for example, it took ten years to isolate the cystic fibrosis gene, which cost more than 65.438+0.5 billion US dollars), once the gene that can encode an important functional protein is obtained, the return will be extremely rich-the discoverer can obtain the patent of the gene, the researchers can conduct related research and design related preventive drugs, and pharmaceutical companies can make huge profits in the market before the patent expires.
1In June, 1985, a meeting was held in California, and the US Department of Energy put forward the first draft of the Human Genome Project (HGP). The purpose of this project is to clarify the sequence of 3 billion base pairs in the human genome, find all human genes and find out their positions on chromosomes, decipher all human genetic information, so that human beings can fully understand themselves at the molecular level for the first time, and finally understand the protein produced by each gene and its function. For example, this process is like drawing a road map from Beijing to Shanghai on foot, marking every peak and trough along the way. Although slow, it is very accurate.
1June, 986, the feasibility of this plan was discussed in New Mexico. Subsequently, the US Department of Energy announced the implementation of this draft. At the beginning of 1987, the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institute of Medical Sciences (NIH) allocated about 5.5 million U.S. dollars for the start-up of the Human Genome Project, with a total allocation of nearly1660,000 U.S. dollars in 1987. At the same time, the United States began to build a human genome project laboratory. 65438-0989, the National Human Genome Research Center was established. Watson, the Nobel Prize winner and the proponent of DNA double helix model, became the first director. 1990, after five years of discussion, the US Congress approved the official launch of the US Human Genome Project on 10 and 1. The overall plan of the American Human Genome Project is to invest at least $3 billion in 15 years to analyze the whole human genome. This plan was revised on 1993, and its main contents include: gene map construction and human genome sequence analysis; Identification of human genes; Establish genome research technology; Model organism for human genome research; Establishment of information system. In addition, there are social, legal and ethical issues such as human genome research, interdisciplinary technical training, technology transfer and research plan expansion.
1988 In April, HUGO (International Human Genome Organization) was founded under the initiative of McKusick and other farsighted western scientists. Hugo represents scientists engaged in human genome research all over the world, aiming at coordinating human genome research on a global scale, and is known as the "United Nations of Human Genome".
UNESCO also held a meeting in Spain in June 1988+00, and established the "UNESCO Human Genome Committee". 1990, the human genome conference with developing countries as the main body was held in Moscow. Academician Wu Min, a famous medical geneticist in China, attended the meeting.
The British "Human Genome Project" was launched in February 1989, and its characteristics can be summarized as "national coordination and centralized resources". "British Human Genome Resource Center" has been providing free technical and experimental materials services to relevant laboratories all over the country. Since 1993, the Sanger Center in London has become the largest sequencing center in the world, completing one third of the sequencing tasks by itself.
The French National Human Genome Project was published in June 1990, and its plan was formulated by the National Academy of Medical Sciences entrusted by the Ministry of Scientific Research. Dorset, the Nobel Prize winner, set up CEPH (Human Polymorphism Research Center) at the end of 1983. With the support of the French people (at least 50 million dollars from private donations), CEPH and related institutions have made indelible contributions to the research of human genome all over the world, especially the construction of the first generation physical map and gene map. The contribution of the French National Gene Sequencing Center to the human genome sequence map is about 3%.
Japan's National Human Genome Project was launched in 1990 under the impetus of the United States. Japan's contribution to DNA sequence mapping is 7%.
1995 The "Human Genome Project" started in Germany has new significance and characteristics. Germany's contribution to the human genome sequence map is 7%.
The human genome project needs China, and China is the richest man in human genetic resources. China has many people and many diseases. In addition, China people have lived under the same roof for generations, and there are no natural and man-made disasters. Ethnic minorities live in remote mountainous areas and form the purest families at most. Some plunderers of genetic resources turned their eyes to China. China's research on the human genome has entered the forefront of the world, but it has not been recognized by the international community. The core of "Human Genome Project" is the construction of DNA sequence map. It has been discussed for 10 whether China will participate in the international cooperation of sequence diagram drawing. If we agree that the sequence diagram of human DNA is "the most important thing", which is related to the capital construction of life science and bio-industry in China in the 2nd/kloc-0th century, then if we don't participate in the sequence diagram drawing, China will lose the opportunity to participate forever.
From 65438 to 0994, China's "Human Genome Project" was initiated by Qiang Boqin and Yang. At first, with the support of the National Natural Science Foundation and the 863 High-tech Program, the "Study on Gene Structure of Several Sites in China Genome" and "Study on Location, Cloning, Structure and Function of Genes Related to Major Diseases" led by the Ministry of Science and Technology were successively carried out. /kloc-0 was registered in the international human genome in July 1999. 1 September, 19991day, Beijing Center and 15 Center, which have made outstanding contributions to the human genome, discussed this strategy together. China, which accounts for 20% of the world's population, has completed the sequencing of a 30Mb region on the short arm of human chromosome 3, which accounts for about 1% of the whole human genome.
In addition, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Australia, Singapore, the former Soviet Union and the former East Germany have also started human genome research with different scales and characteristics.
Humans have only one genome. The research results of human genome should become the common wealth of mankind. The most important feature of the human genome project is "globalization". Therefore, in 1995, UNESCO established the International Society for Bioethics and published the Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1998+0 1 and became the world declaration.
On May 8, 2006, British and American scientists published the gene sequencing results of the last human chromosome, chromosome 1, in the online edition of Nature, the most authoritative scientific magazine in the world. Among all 22 pairs of autosomes in human body, chromosome 1 contains the largest number of genes, reaching 3 14 1, which is twice the average level. * * With more than 223 million base pairs, it is also the most difficult to decipher. It took a team of 150 British and American scientists 10 years to complete the sequencing of chromosome 1.
Scientists have announced the completion of the human genome project more than once, but they have not published the full text. This time, the book of life is more accurate, covering 99.99% of the human genome. The "Book of Life" to interpret the human genetic code was declared complete, and the last chapter of the human genome project, which lasted for 16 years, was written.
For scientists, the "Human Genome Project" has brought them a great leap in their understanding of human beings and the hope that human beings can overcome diseases.
By 2020, doctors will be able to treat almost all diseases with genetically engineered drugs. According to the understanding of the role of genetic factors in diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and schizophrenia, people will develop more advanced drugs to fundamentally treat these diseases.
Cancer treatment will bring about fundamental changes. Because tumors are usually caused by defects of healthy cells and infinite division after DNA damage, scientists can choose the best treatment by explaining its genetic mechanism. General medical care will also be greatly improved. At that time, doctors can prescribe according to the stored genetic data of patients, instead of checking first and then determining the treatment plan as it is now. For some specific drugs, it can also be determined in advance whether it will have adverse side effects on patients.
By 2030, medical care based on genetics will be popularized. Every potential patient can make a corresponding preventive medical plan according to his own genetic test data to prevent diseases that may be caused by his own genetic defects. With the extensive understanding of genes, people will further deepen their understanding of environmental factors leading to diseases, thus opening up broad prospects for improving public health.