HGPI

Human Genome Project Information Archive
1990–2003

Archive Site Provided for Historical Purposes

Human Genome Project

Completed in 2003, the Human Genome Project (HGP) was a 13-year project coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institutes of Health. During the early years of the HGP, the Wellcome Trust (U.K.) became a major partner; additional contributions came from Japan, France, Germany, China, and others. Project goals were to

  • identify all the approximately 20,500 genes in human DNA,
  • determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up human DNA,
  • store this information in databases,
  • improve tools for data analysis,
  • transfer related technologies to the private sector, and
  • address the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) that may arise from the project.

Though the HGP is finished, analyses of the data will continue for many years.

Explore the Project's History

Starting points include

  • Human Genome News: This 13-year publication facilitated HGP communication, helped prevent duplication of research effort, and informed persons interested in genome research.
  • Timeline: This research tool chronicles major events in the HGP and related follow-on projects.
  • Publications archive: Library of HGP program reports, research abstracts, research goals, and other historical documents.
  • Research archive: Archive of HGP research by topic including goals, abstracts, and reports.

Impacts of the HGP

"If we want to make the best products, we also have to invest in the best ideas. Every dollar we invested to map the human genome returned $140 to the economy—every dollar." —President Barack Obama, 2013 State of the Union address.

How DOE is building on the legacy of the HGP

Since 2001, the DOE Genomic Science Program has been using microbial and plant genomic data, high-throughput analytical technologies, and modeling and simulation to develop a predictive understanding of biological systems behavior relevant to solutions for energy and environmental challenges including bioenergy production, environmental remediation, and climate stabilization.

About This Site

During the Human Genome Project, this website served as the primary electronic information source for HGP researchers and the public. It is now a unique archive—a repository for historical documents detailing the history of the HGP from the project's beginnings in 1989 until it was completed in 2003.

Human Genome Project 1990–2003

The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international 13-year effort, 1990 to 2003. Primary goals were to discover the complete set of human genes and make them accessible for further biological study, and determine the complete sequence of DNA bases in the human genome. See Timeline for more HGP history.

Human Genome News

Published from 1989 until 2002, this newsletter facilitated HGP communication, helped prevent duplication of research effort, and informed persons interested in genome research.