Human genome project – where next?

Abstract

The rivalry between the public and privately funded human genome sequencing projects was set aside on 6 June as scientists from the two teams got together in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The goal of the meeting, according to Chad Nussbaum of the Whitehead Institute, was to find the cheapest strategy that can also make sense of a previously unexplored genome. Press reports state that the meeting was conducted in a calm, amicable manner. The groups agreed that both approaches had been useful in sequencing the human genome, and that the best way forward for future projects would depend on the complexity of the genome being studied and would benefit greatly from more advanced computer software. Two of the main protagonists, Eric Lander and Craig Venter, were not present, and the promise of a paper by Lander critical of Celera's approach indicates that hostilities might soon recommence (see Science magazine 15 June 2001, p. 292 for further details). Meanwhile, estimates of the number of genes in the human sequence still vary widely. Bill Haseltine, CEO of Human Genome Sciences (HGS), described in the Financial Times as a ‘maverick’, has suggested that there might be as many as 100 000 human genes, despite the fact that most estimates are around 30 000. Haseltine claims that HGS has already identified 60 000 genes through analysis of mRNA transcripts. S.L.