Image Gallery DOE Microbial Genome Program Report

The establishment in 1994 of the DOE Microbial Genome Program helped jump-start the explosion of microbial genomic data entered into the public databases. Researchers estimate that more than 200 million additional microbial DNA bases will be sequenced in the next 2 to 3 years, with some 200,000 predicted genes. This is about twice the number of genes expected from the completion of the Human Genome Project. The biological functions of at least half of these genes will be unknown, underscoring the need for further explorations to discover and apply microbial capabilities in new ways to benefit humankind.

Graph data by Frank Larimer (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
 

The online presentation of this 2000 publication is a special feature of the Human Genome Project Information Web site.