The scientific purpose of the Human Genome Project and the specific goals of "timing, quantification, and quality" are to determine the sequence of the 3 billion nucleotides that make up the human genome, thereby laying the foundation for elucidating the human genome and all genes. Structure and function, interpret all human genetic information, and lay the foundation for uncovering the mysteries of the human body. Due to the consistency of living matter and the continuity of biological evolution, as well as the versatility of the strategies and technologies established by the "Human Genome Project", this means laying the foundation for uncovering the ultimate mystery of life.
The guiding significance of the Human Genome Project to life science research and the development of the bio-industry can be summarized in terms of scale, serialization, informatization and industrialization, medicalization, and human culture.
1. Scale
The new discipline "genomics" was born with the launch of the "Human Genome Project" and developed with the progress of the Human Genome Project Get up. For the first time, biologists can understand and study the genes of all and multiple species (through comparative genomics) in one species on the scale of the entire genome, instead of everyone discovering and studying their "favorite" genes one by one. This is one of the main differences that distinguishes genomics from genetics and all other biological sciences involving genes. Changes in research scale have brought about changes in laboratories and experimental methods. At the same time, new requirements have been put forward for the quality of leading scientists, the team spirit of staff, and the "semi-scientific, semi-enterprise" management unique to very large laboratories. Require. This is one of the reasons why the "Human Genome Project" has only 6 official member states and 16 centers. It is also the basis for the contribution share of the "Human Genome Project" to become a comprehensive response to a country's national strength and a symbol of life sciences and bio-industry.
2. Serialization
The serialization of biological information is an epoch-making milestone for life sciences to enter the 21st century, and it is also a stage sign of the maturity of life sciences. Only quantitative (quantitative) subjects can be called science. Mendel's contribution was mainly to bring "factors" and quantification into this discipline that existed before and had great achievements.
The serialization of biological information, that is, life science, is based on sequence. This is the most important feature that distinguishes the life sciences of the new era from the previous biology. With the final completion of the human genome sequence map, the discovery of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms, or sequence differences), as well as comparative genomics, ancient DNA, the "Food Genome Project", "Pathogen and Environmental Genome Project" (mainly With the advancement of human susceptibility-related sequences that are the source of fatal pathogens, genome sequence diagrams of major species with scientific, economic, and medical significance will be released. We have already gained more information from the sequences than have been accumulated in all biological research to date. For the first time, life science has become a science that is oriented rather than hypothesis- and concept-oriented. Even evolution, the most essential feature of life, and the study of evolution, which is the only study that cannot be repeated in the laboratory due to time and past circumstances, will be based on multiple models and the genome sequences of other organisms. Conduct quantitative research. The study of ancient DNA will reveal the mystery of the evolution of life and the connection between ancient and modern creatures. This helps people better understand the relationship between humans in the biological world.
3. Informatization
The success of the Human Genome Project relied on bioinformatics and the network that made the earth smaller. Without them, coordination of the International Human Genome Project and timely publication worldwide would not be possible. Without all the software and hardware, nothing about the Human Genome Project would be possible. Once a sequence is read, its quality control, assembly, submission, and analysis all depend on bioinformatics. From now on, the meaning of the sequence is completely determined by bioinformatics. Without computer analysis and comparison of the exploding information, what is the use of sequences? However, informatization has changed the entire life sciences and the way experimental subjects exist. Today's biological experiments may involve mostly analyzing sequence information.
The reason why the Human Genome Project is eye-catching is first of all because of people’s needs for health. Human pursuit of health is one of the most important activities of human beings.
Disease is naturally the primary factor affecting health, and it is an issue that every person, every parent, every family, and every national government has to consider.
4. Medicalization
The Human Genome Project has medicalized its results and has benefited mankind in medicine. The Human Genome Project has lived up to the support and high expectations of the democratic public. The sequences provided by the established "working framework map" have been studied through biological information processing and other technologies, and nearly 40,000 genes have been identified; dozens of "disease alleles" directly related to diseases have been cloned. . More than 40 kinds of gene products, such as human insulin, interferon, growth hormone, etc., have been put into production. Gene diagnosis technology for many diseases has been established. Gene prediction, gene prevention, gene diagnosis, and gene therapy will change the entire medicine. The differences in DNA sequences will help humans understand the resistance of different individuals to diseases, so they can prescribe the right medicine based on each person's "genetic characteristics." That is medicine in the 21st century - "personalized medicine". At that time, DNA sequence analysis may become the fastest, most accurate, and cheapest diagnostic method.
Malaria, Alzheimer's disease, etc. will have new breakthroughs in the near future. Using the "gene map" as a "reference book" for diet and daily life can make our lifestyle and living environment more harmonious with our genes, which will definitely extend everyone's lifespan to a certain extent. Humanity will all benefit from understanding our own genes.
5. Industrialization
The Human Genome Project will drive the development of the biological industry in the 21st century. Characteristics such as scale, serialization, and informatics make it linked to the possibility of industrialization from the very beginning.
The biological industry, together with the information industry, will become the pillar industry of the national economy in all countries in the world in the 21st century. The characteristics of the biological industry are resource dependence and resource informatization, which makes biological resources a strategic resource that can be competed for and occupied after land (minerals, etc.) resources. The strategies and technologies developed by the Human Genome Project have transformed biological resources from the original population germplasm resources (germplasm of wild and high-quality varieties) to serialization and information. The information of resources brought by technology has made its protection more efficient. for difficulty. Failure to realize this may lead to the loss of our biological resources, the loss of the source and upstream of the biological industry, and the established biotechnologies (such as gene cloning, transgenics, animal individual cloning, etc.) becoming useless. The current urgent task of my country's life science community is to adapt to the requirements of the new era of life sciences based on DNA sequences and oriented by bioinformation while contributing to the Human Genome Project.
6. Humanity
The background pattern of the White House's "Working Framework" celebration is interesting: interpreting the book of life - a milestone for humanity.
In the past, when we discussed "Science is a double-edged sword", we were only concerned that the enemies of mankind might also wield this sword, such as Hitler and Yamamoto Isoroku. Now, our problem suddenly becomes complicated. These public enemies of mankind still exist (such as bioterrorists). But more importantly, it is impossible to determine illegal behavior based on existing international law and the laws of a country. Our laws suddenly became at a loss or powerless to deal with these new problems. We must be adequately prepared in all aspects such as moral or ethical, personal survival psychology, social structure and behavior. From a humanistic perspective, even human nature and the humanities' position on human rights, equality, and social structures in nature will be re-discussed.
The Human Genome Project has had a great impact on society. Let me summarize it here:
1. Humanity is one big family. For example, humans only have one unique genome, and everyone needs to work together to protect it. Its "intellectual property rights" are owned by all mankind. The differences between individual human beings are small and necessary for human survival. All human beings are genetically equal. Therefore, there is no distinction between normal genome and abnormal genome, or "disease genome", no distinction between "healthy genes" and "disease genes", and no distinction between good genes and bad genes. So far, all Most, if not all, known disease-related genes exist in a certain way - alleles, which are meaningful to human survival, especially those genes related to autosomal recessive diseases.
Therefore, genetic patients have borne unavoidable suffering for mankind, and they should be respected and cared for by us. They can also make great contributions to mankind. Any views of "eugenics" or "bad students" have no scientific basis and are not in line with human nature. We must treat others well.
2. All members are genetically equal, and human genes are the unique wealth and heritage of mankind. The occurrence of most diseases is caused by the incompatibility between differences in the genome and the environment that regulates genes. Genes will become a reference book for our daily life and diet. Create a harmonious relationship with our genes and be kind to ourselves.
3. A member's genomic information is a person's most important privacy. This is the individual concept of the human genome. It is related to the entire dignity and part of the destiny of a social member and must be respected by society and others.
4. The connection between humans and biological nature is a product of natural evolution. Through the study of comparative genomics, ancient DNA, and evolution, humans will better understand their place in nature and better build a new civilization that is in line with humanity and humanity, and is in harmony with nature.
In addition, the public’s right to know about genes and genetic research must be ensured.
Finally, let’s talk about the possibility of non-peaceful uses of genomic research.
The ambition of the human genome project is too great. In view of the "double-edged sword" of natural science, we have to consider the benefits it brings at the same time: this information falls into the hands of bioterrorists or bioterrorists. What will happen if it is in the hands of other public enemies of mankind? What if this information is abused or misused? "The day the Human Genome Project is completed (here I am talking about the time when the mysteries of human beings are completely revealed, the Human Genome Project is just the prelude), it will be the day when human beings themselves "The time of destruction", although too extreme, is by no means just sensational. One of the reasons why mankind is safe so far is that its secrets are not known to anyone!
The discussion of the former issue is about the world and a National security issues should be on the table of world summits or high-level conferences in a country. The White House is definitely aware of this issue and has begun to consider it. The "21st Century Bioterrorism Plan" or other names have shown that the White House is no longer considering classic, traditional biological weapons, such as biological nerve gases, well-known deadly pathogens and their use in genetic engineering Derivatives produced, but biological weapons related to human genes. A lot of data already provided by the Human Genome Project, as well as repeated data that will be provided in the future, show that individual differences are always greater than any race or ethnicity (perhaps the term "ethnic" for Chinese people). However, differences do exist to a certain extent between races, ethnic groups, and groups. These subtle differences are enough to become the first generation of race- or group-specific biological extermination weapons that can identify "enemy" and "self". To give a few examples: In terms of race, natural immunity to the AIDS virus, which is common among white people, has not been found or is extremely rare in Asians (yellow people); and it has not been found in China so far. CF (vesicular fibrosis) has an incidence rate of 1/400 in Caucasians, and the proportion of carriers in the population is 1/20 to 30. From a group perspective, patients with silkworm disease are not uncommon in southern China. A slight difference in their genome means that they will die if they eat a few broad beans. If the cause of the disease is not known and timely rescue is not done, they will die. The "Global Declaration on Human Genes and Human Rights" adopted by the United Nations General Assembly includes relevant content and requires all countries to abide by it. As a non-governmental official of the UNESC0 "International Bioethics Committee" who drafted this document, I am deeply touched. Preventing this problem concerns every head of state and every responsible scientist, and it is also important to ensure the people's right to know. I don't agree with comparing the Human Genome Project to the "Manhattan Atomic Bomb Project" (the former far surpasses the latter in terms of humanities), just because of my concerns. I very much hope that on this issue, before this "genetic atomic bomb" explodes (whether for the needs of peace or war), through our efforts and the establishment of international cooperation, we can eliminate it before it happens. History will prove the need to discuss this proposal.