Approximate Location Of Genes On Chromosome 11
Graphic Source: US Department of Energy

I guess that most of us know already that there is an ongoing project to map all the genes in the human body. This has been going quite nicely for a few years now. It is a very important study, that will have tremendous ramifications in the health of future humans and maybe even some that are around now, but why do I bring this up now? I guess I thought it was an interesting time to talk about this, because the scientists on the project have reached the last human chromosome. So what exactly is a chromosome, before we can talk about it, we must understand what it is. Webster's Online Dictionary describes it this way, "any of the rod-shaped or threadlike DNA-containing structures of cellular organisms that are located in the nucleus of eukaryotes, are usually ring-shaped in prokaryotes (as bacteria), and contain all or most of the genes of the organism; also : the genetic material of a virus" Sorry this sounds so complicated, here is an easier defination. A chromosome is a large structure composed of DNA, RNA and protein, which serves as the storage medium for some or all of an organisms genetic information

The project is know as the Human Genome Project and scientists are anxiously awaiting the mapping of the final chromosome called chromosome #1. It is the largest of all the chromosomes and contains the most genes. The definition of a gene by Webster is "a specific sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA that is located usually on a chromosome and that is the functional unit of inheritance controlling the transmission and expression of one or more traits by specifying the structure of a particular polypeptide and especially a protein or controlling the function of other genetic material". We have several trillion cells in our bodies and each one has the human genome in them. What this means is that there is the material in each one of our cells to build a complete male or female human. There are 46 chromosomes throughout the body. Scientists are very excited for another reason. Since the beginning to this project, it has concentrated on mapping all the genes, but once they are finished, they can then concentrate on what each gene does. This is going to have a huge impact on the medical profession and medicine as we know it today.

It is believed that about 3 billion base pairs of nucleotide bases make up human DNA. That is a lot of material to have to get information on and it might not have been possible except for the power of computers. Someday doctors will be able to bring up information on a particular base pair just with the push of a button. New scientific instruments will no doubt be developed, that will be able to be used to correct any abnormalities in genes, base pairs or any other part of the body. We will no longer be saddled with inherited diseases and many of the illnesses that are around today will disappear. Before we can use any of this information, we had to learn how cells function and for the last 20 years or so, since gene splicing began, we have learned a lot about human cells. We don't know everything, but our knowledge is progressing and will continue to progress and be helped along by the study of genes.

As the Human Genome Project began to discover the mysteries of the cell and began to map genes, many of the life processes that these genes control in microorganisms were also discovered. . How will all this work. Chromosomal Maps will be made and all the genes in that chromosome will be located on it and the specific function defined. Someday there may even be school children who will have to get a copy of one of these maps for their homework. Here is what had been set out as the goal for the project. First chromosomes are in pairs and it was thought that 10 years would be needed to create maps of all 23 pairs of chromosomes. The second part of the project is sequencing the DNA contained in all the chromosomes and it was thought that this would take about 15 years. You just can't rush something as complex as this along. New machines have to be invented that will lower the cost of all this work and then large scale sequencing will begin. The project was begun in 1990.

There are millions of people suffering from inherited diseases. Not everything that bothers people can be called a disease. For example, baldness might be caused by a inherited gene or a proclivity to be overweight. Even a birthmark might be genetic, who knows? In the field of medicine, drugs might be able to be developed some day that will be gene specific. An example of this might be a drug that would be taken if a woman gets pregnant, who's family has a history of a particular genetic disorder. Take the drug and eliminate the risk. There is a lot to be said for this, especially if there is a heavy incidence of cancer in one's ancestors. Scientists believe that gene mutations are the cause of many of today's major diseases, such as heart disease, immune disorders, diabetes and many more.

Photo Source: US Department of Energy

Someday, maybe everyone will have a genetic examination early in their life and anything abnormal will be corrected, before it can cause any damage. The medical insurance companies would love this and it would be good for us. Not all of our genome contains coded areas. Critics say that since only about 5% of the Human Genome is coded, this is all we should be concerned with. since it is too expensive to map it all and investigate it. This is like telling someone not to be concerned about any diseases except the three or four major ones and is very short sighted. With all the money wasted by this country, what sense does it make to cut back on this project so that some politician can use the funds to build a bridge to nowhere, as was done in the past.

I am 100% for this project and I am sorry I won't be around 100 years from now to see all its benefits.