This plan has quite profound technical content. Describing all genes as images or displaying their structures through images is the key link to cure diseases by manipulating genes artificially.
The chromosomes of the chain-like gene DNA carried in the nucleus must be divided into shorter shapes, but this is a more demanding task, because these chromosomes contain 50 million to 250 million base substances. Each shortened DNA strand must be decomposed by electrophoresis procedures as we know, and then its chromosome can be analyzed to confirm the identity of its basic substance. Automatic sequencer can scan and record these actual information and data from shortened gene sequences. After that, the computer combined these shortened sequences (each about 500 bases) into a long sequence that was continuously stretched. At each step of these procedures, we must carefully analyze errors or errors, gene coding regions and other features. The project also includes research projects composed of genes of several non-human organisms, including Escherichia coli bacteria, fruit flies and laboratory mice.
This is a bit like separating wheat from wheat husk, because the useful information that scientists are looking for (that is, the genome code in protein) only accounts for a small proportion; Its genes are mostly repetitive and do not contain any important sequences related to the composition information of protein, so it is called "junk DNA".
In 2003, this plan was basically completed ahead of schedule. Although the exact number of genes still needs further study and investigation, the approximate number is between 20 00025 000, which is much smaller than the earliest estimate of about 100 000. This result is a great surprise for scientists, because this number is only a few thousand more than simple worms.
It may take several years to get more accurate figures. However, in addition to practical applications such as gene therapy, we can be sure that the research results of the Human Genome Project have enabled scientists to fully understand various biological systems. In addition, the plan redefines the scope of future scientific research. This project is not only a study of human beings, but also the technological innovation brought by scientists and the latest information they collected will help to uncover the genomes of other organic substances, especially the genomes of animals specializing in biological research such as mice, fruit flies and flatworms. It should be emphasized that most organisms have many homologous or similar genes, so identifying and confirming the gene sequence and function of a typical organism (such as ascaris lumbricoides) may explain other homologous genes of human body or other organisms.
Francis Collins, director of the National Institute of Human Genetics in the United States, compared the research results of the genome project to a multi-purpose reference book. "This is a historical work," he said, "because it tells the story of the time journey of species. At the same time, it is also a manual in the store, which depicts an incredibly detailed blueprint for how to build every human cell. It can also be transformed into a medical textbook, full of all kinds of insights, providing endless motivation for medical and health service personnel to cope with, prevent and treat diseases. "
There are more things to celebrate. In 2005, an organization named "International Human Genome Haplotype Group" published a comprehensive catalogue of human genome differences. This catalogue is based on the human genome sequence and is a great achievement with milestone significance. At the same time, it has promoted the research progress of common diseases such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
More than 200 researchers from the United States, Canada, China, Japan, Nigeria and Britain used blood samples from 269 volunteers, who were geographically dispersed. So far, the research results obtained by these researchers have provided overwhelming experimental evidence that the differences of human genome can be organized into a locally adjacent type, that is, the so-called "single-mode specimen", which is usually handed down in the form of a complete information module.
The future genome of mankind
HapMap catalogue of human genome can help doctors prescribe the most suitable prescription and dosage for each patient. At the same time, it will also warn these patients how to take preventive measures, which should also take into account the principle that everyone reacts differently to environmental factors. In addition, it may also help researchers identify and confirm those genetic elements that can bring benefits to human health, thus protecting the human body from infectious diseases and promoting human health and longevity.
Fu Nakamura, director of the Human Genome Research Center of the University of Tokyo, said, "It saves a lot of money for the scientific community and reduces the research cost of genomes aimed at finding genetic factors of common diseases, which is equivalent to the research cost of 10 ~ 20 genetic factors."
From Hippocrates to the haplotype map of human genome, from bacterial theory to human genome, the human body constantly brings surprises, fascinations and puzzles to medical scientists-all of which we have.