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Ban on Genetic Discrimination in workplace
In 1995, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), issued a modification on the definition of "disability". -
Physical map of human genome completed
A physical map uses sequence-tagged sites (STSs) as markers to order large segments of DNA. One of the goals of the HGP was to complete a physical map with a marker every 100,000 base pairs by 1998. The map built by 1995 was a significant milestone toward that goal; it contained 15,086 STSs, spaced an average of 199,000 base pairs apart. -
international Strategy meeting on human genome sequencing
The first international strategy meeting on human genome sequencing drew scientists from the countries in Europe, North America, and Asia funding human genome sequencing projects. The scientists gathered to compare sequencing strategies and to discuss guidelines for data release. The attendees agreed that all human sequence data they produce should be made freely available to the public. -
Human gene map created
Genetic mapping - also called linkage mapping - can offer firm evidence that a disease transmitted from parent to child is linked to one or more genes. -
Human DNA Sequence Begins
the National Human Genome Research Institute funded pilot projects to find efficient strategies for completely sequencing the human genome. The pilot projects tested the feasibility of large-scale sequencing, and explored how accurate and how costly alternative approaches might be. -
Recommendations on genetic testing
Most tests look at single genes and are used to diagnose rare genetic disorders, such as Fragile X Syndrome and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. And some genetic tests look at rare inherited mutations of otherwise protective genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are responsible for some hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. However, a growing number of tests are being developed to look at multiple genes that may increase or decrease a person’s risk of common diseases, such as cancer or diabetes. -
HGP map includes 30,000 human genes
In October 1998, HGP researchers released a gene map that included 30,000 human genes, estimated to represent approximately one-third of the total human genes. -
Genome of roundworm C. Elegant sequenced
In December 1998, the first genome sequence of a multicellular organism, the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, was completed. -
Full-scale human genome sequencing
In March 1999, HGP participants advanced their goal of obtaining draft sequence covering 90 percent of the human genome to 2000, a year and a half before projected previously. Full-scale human genome sequencing began. -
Chromosome 22
Chromosome 22 is one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in human cells. Humans normally have two copies of chromosome 22 in each cell. Chromosome 22 is the second smallest human chromosome, spanning about 49 million DNA base pairs and representing between 1.5 and 2% of the total DNA in cells. -
Free access to genomic information
In March 2000, U.S. President Clinton and U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair stated that raw, fundamental data about human genome sequence and its variations should be freely available. -
First draft of human genome sequence released
The Human Genome Project international consortium published a first draft and initial analysis of the human genome sequence. The draft sequence covered more than 90 percent of the human genome. One surprise is that the estimated number of genes was lower than expected, just 30,000-35,000. The sequence data was immediately and freely released to the world. Researchers can access the data through public databases on the Internet and can use the information without restriction. -
Researchers find genetic variation associated with prostate cancer
Researchers identified a gene on chromosome 1 associated with a hereditary form of prostate cancer. The work was a collaboration between researchers at the National Human Genome Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, and The Cleveland Clinic. Previously, the researchers had studied families with high risks for prostate cancer and identified regions of chromosomes 1, 17, 20, and X as being associated with the higher risk. -
Human genome project completed
The Human Genome Project (HGP) was one of the great feats of exploration in history. Rather than an outward exploration of the planet or the cosmos, the HGP was an inward voyage of discovery led by an international team of researchers looking to sequence and map all of the genes -- together known as the genome -- of members of our species, Homo sapiens. -
Fiftieth Anniversary of Watson and Crick's Description of the Double Helix
In April 1953, a paper appeared in the journal Nature that proposed a double helix structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid DNA. ... Crick, Watson, and Wilkins shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work. -
The First National DNA Day Celebrated
National DNA Day was first celebrated on April 25, 2003, 50 years after the discover of DNA's double-helix structure. -
Surgeon general stresses importance of family history
Dr. Gottlieb emphasized that employee participation in the family history project will be entirely voluntary. -
Initiatives to Establish the Genetic & Environmental Causes of Common Diseases Launched
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the creation of two new, closely related initiatives to speed up research on the causes of common diseases such as asthma, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease.