Essay Sample on Human Genome Project: From Cancer Understanding to Automated Sequencing

The Human Genome Project rose as a result of the improvement of genomics technologies. It originated from the desire to get an understanding of cancer (Hood and Rowen 1). At first, the HGP was established to determine the human genetic map, the human genome physical map and the sequence map. All these were left out as they were considered too complicated, and the majority of the biologists were focused on the sequence data. However, the first-generation automated fluorescent-based sequencing strategies were established as they were cost-effective, fast and accurate (Hood and Rowen 2). Venter's plan to generate a company for the aim of using a whole shotgun approach led to the emergence of these new strategies. Finally, the government funding agencies were convinced to promote the production of clone-based draft sequence for each chromosome.

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In the HGP, a decision was made to start sequencing smaller genomes of a primary organism used for experiments such as yeast, small flowering plants, worm and fruit fly (Hood and Rowen 2). The human genome was more complex to start the sequencing. The determination of many centers was put together to generate the genome sequences. Therefore, cooperation among the centers was practiced to the maximum. The HGP has advanced mathematical, computational and statistical tools for data processing.

Another production of HGP was the exact reference sequence for each human sequence. The referenced only included small gaps and lacked heterochromatic parts (Hood and Rowen 2). The references have also formed a background for the use of second-generation sequencing technologies. The generation produces many short reads for mapping at an extensive coverage. The HGP created a way for the advancement of the biological studies of genomics.

Among the effects of the human genome sequence on biology and technology was discovering and arranging the parts list of some human genes. Human proteins and RNAs were also detected. The parts are supposed to be known for a better understanding of the complex system of biology. The knowledge of the parts list has improved biology and medicine approaches. For example, the Encyclopedia Of DNA Elements main goal was to seek a better understanding of the functional parts of the genome (Hood and Rowen 2).

Another impact of HGP is the growth of proteomics (Hood and Rowen 3). It is an essential area of biology that focuses on identifying and classifying the proteins found in small biological compartments such as organelles and organs. Proteins generally part of the functionality system of an organism's genome. Mass spectrometry has been widely used concerning HGP as an analytical tool of analysis to analyze mass-spectrometry-based proteomics. Besides, proteomics need effective computational techniques such as Peptide Atlas.

HGP has changed people's understanding of evolution. Standard genome sequences have been produced mostly from eukaryotes which provide an overview of how microbes are connected to a human. All species originated from a single ancestor (Hood and Rowen 3). It has now become possible to answer questions regarding biology and medicine. Such issues include, where the genes originate from, the regions of the genome that are resistant to mutation and how the regulatory networks emerge and change the patterns of gene expression.

HGP has also led to the development of effective computational and mathematical strategies to data. It has also brought individuals such as computer scientists, mathematicians, engineers and biologists together to promote cooperation and working together. HGP ensured that data was made available to the public through easy to use databases such as GenBank (Hood and Rowen 3). Besides, HGP also created an open-source operating system software for easy data accessibility. Data retrieval is essential primarily in the medicine area to determine the medicine that can be used in future by considering the history.

Furthermore, HGP is an example of the big science in biology (Hood and Rowen 3). The project clearly illustrated the need for combining biology and technology. The HGP had clear formulated objectives and strategies. Big science and smaller-scope-individual-investigator-oriented science complement each other. Big science produces the necessary resources to cater for research, and the latter provides a detailed experimental analysis of particular questions. The big science helps in getting through the complexities found in both biology and medicine disciplines entirely.

The HGP has, therefore impacted biology and medicine in various ways such as creating the human genome sequence and developing sequencing model organism (Hood and Rowen 3). Sequencing technologies have also been established with a thorough examination of the ethics in these technologies. The project took advantage of the economies of scale to avoid clinging on the gene-by-gene sequential basis in the small labs. The government supported the HGP after discovering that it has economic benefits.

Withdrawing support from the big science and focusing on small science is a mistake that should not be practiced. Some of the biological-resource-generating projects that require big science include the HapMap and the ENCODE (Hood and Rowen 4). The upcoming big science projects apart from the HGP will bring forth high returns if operated in the right way. Openness is crucial when selecting big science projects. Funding agencies should integrate both big and small science projects.

The HGP prompted the thinking of talented scientists. They included Jim Watson, Eric Lander and John Sulston (Hood and Rowen 4). These scientists supported and ensured that HGP progressed well. The HGP is a fundamental paradigm change in the biology discipline. However much the project was resisted at the started, it brought about significant change that was quite visible.

HGP made an impact in the area of medicine (Hood and Rowen 4). The projects emerging from HGP led to a better understanding of the human genetic variation and how it influences human health. The HapMap and the Genomes are among the plans. The data generated from these projects support genome-wide association studies. The genome-wide association studies are not reliable as it is difficult to interpret the disease-causing variants. It is also hard to determine the coding hits as to whether they reflect the malfunctioning of the regulatory elements.

The project started with the sequencing of a few personal genomes. Today, there are a high number of exome and whole-genome sequences that existed. They serve to identify disease-causing variants. The new genomes also provide a broad relationship between sequence variation and specific phenotypes. For example, The Cancer Genome Atlas is collecting data concerning various types of cancer with an attempt of availing the information for research (Hood and Rowen4).

Individual genome sequences will at one time be essential in the medical practice. Patients will be using prevention measures to improve their health (Hood and Rowen, 4). The strategies taken will be as per the individual genome sequence suggestion. Physicians will require training themselves on how to advise patients with related genetic issues. A collection of system approaches have changed the understanding of human diseases and healthcare practice.

More than 70 genes have been identified that causes humans to metabolize drugs ineffectively (Hood and Rowen 4). There exist gene variants that cause diseases whose effects can be avoided by the use of medical approaches. Cancer mutations once detected early can be treated with the available drugs in the market. Blood diagnostic approach has helped in the detection of human diseases such as lung cancer (Hood and Rowen 5). The blood diagnosis strategies, therefore, look forward to reducing infections on each individual.

Despite the HGP playing essential roles in the discipline of medicine, biology and technology, it also has an impact in the society. The project incorporated the social, ethical and legal aspects in understanding the human genome sequence (Hood and Rowen 5). The project revealed that there are no genes according to an individual's race. The genome is only a manifestation of an individual's ancestral origin. The information helps the society to live in peace without discrimination towards one another.

The aspect of understanding the human genome has a lot of problems. Some human genome has not yet been sequenced. The reason behind this is the low genome chromosome content (Hood and Rowen 5). Besides, there are specific regions of the human's genome whose work is not yet known. There is an assumption that they are regulatory.

Advances required in genome analysis include developing effective analytical techniques to detect biological information in genomes (Hood and Rowen 5). Another essential advancement is the ability to analyze human genomes regarding gene variations. The software should also be developed that can convert the genome-assumed proteins into structures for easy identification. Moreover, biological structure networks should give predictions. It is crucial to learn how to measure and interpret the diverse effects of the genomes.

The launching of the biology systems was critical as it incorporated the parts list. The parts list of the systems biology contains the elements of living organisms such as genes (Hood and Rowen 5). The missions are open-ended to include the scientists into the field. The primary feature of the systems biology is to combine various types of biological information. It creates models for particular kind of organisms.

Implementation of technology in biology has improved on the research. The knowledge applies to both big and small science (Hood and Rowen 5). Technology incorporation has also enhanced accuracy. Reduction in the cost of sequencing has increased the rate of accessing genomic information. The information is then used in both large and small scale functional studies that improve further research.

The Human Proteome Project is the successor of the HGP (Hood and Rowen 6). However, financial challenges face the project. The project is supposed to benefit the biology discipline. There are various goals postulated by the project. They include creating space for human proteins, improving technology, and create software that will enable scientists to analyze related social data.

The new DNA sequences will change how genome data is collected (Hood and Rowen 6). Third-generation sequencing of the genomes uses nanochannels, electronic signals and single DNA strands. The third-generation sequencing will eliminate unique individual variability. To add on, the new sequencing model will help in identifying the genes contained in the DNA. The system will also help in interpreting the RNA components.

Work Cited

Hood, Lee Rowen. "The Human Genome Project: big science transforms biology and medicine." BioMed Central. 2013. Pp. 1-8.