@article{d1efd7fe1ee04d5eb10217d641871178,
title = "Primer on medical genomics. Part I: History of genetics and sequencing of the human genome",
abstract = "In comparison with most other disciplines of science, the field of genetics is still in its youth. The majority of scientific work in genetics has been done in the past 150 years. The successful preliminary sequencing of the human genome was announced in 2001. Nonetheless, interest in heredity and in other concepts within the field of genetics has existed since the beginning of humanity. This article provides an account of the history of genetics, spanning from humankind's initial attempts to understand and influence heredity, to the early scientific work in the field of genetics, and subsequently to the advancements in modern genetics. Additionally, the Human Genome Project is summarized, from inception to publication of the {"}first draft{"} of the human genome sequence.",
author = "Lorentz, {Cindy Pham} and Wieben, {Eric D.} and Ayalew Tefferi and Whiteman, {David A.H.} and Dewald, {Gordon W.}",
note = "Funding Information: In the United States, the first formal meeting to discuss the feasibility of sequencing the human genome occurred in June 1985. 96 This meeting was convened by Robert Sinsheimer, then chancellor of the University of California at Santa Cruz. The concept of sequencing the human genome excited many of the prominent researchers in attendance and generated discussion of such a project within the scientific community. Separately, in late 1985, the director of health and environmental research at the Department of Energy (DOE), Charles DeLisi, was charged with assessing the utility of DNA sequencing in detecting induced mutations in survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In 1987, DeLisi started the Human Genome Initiative, the first government program on genome research. The US Congress began gathering data on human genome research in 1986. However, Congress did not decide to provide funding until 1988, after it concluded that the formation of administrative centers accountable to Congress could most efficiently manage issues such as databases, sharing of research materials, and cultivation of new technologies. Congress started by funding $17.3 million to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and $11.8 million to DOE. These budgets increased progressively over the next few years. The NIH established the Office of Human Genome Research in September 1988. One year later, this office was renamed the National Centre for Human Genome Research (NCHGR). James Watson was the NCHGR's director until April 1992. 3 In this role, he pledged that 3% to 5% of the project's budget would be devoted to address ethical, legal, and social issues that arose from the study of the human genome. This program, the Ethical, Legal and Social Issues program, was the largest bioethics program in the world. Watson left the NCHGR after some disagreements over issues related to gene patenting. Francis Collins was named director of the NCHGR in April 1993. 99 ",
year = "2002",
doi = "10.4065/77.8.773",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "77",
pages = "773--782",
journal = "Mayo Clinic proceedings",
issn = "0025-6196",
publisher = "Elsevier Science",
number = "8",
}