Some major landmarks in the path from nuclein to human genome (1)

The completion of sequencing of the human genome as well as the genomes of other species is a spectacular achievement of 20th-century biology. It is appropriately regarded as a turning point in biology and medicine for the 21st century. Knowledge of the human genome will presumably help us understand the genetic instructions that make us human. By learning about the gene sequences, the functional dynamics of the genome as well as the individual genetic differences, scientists hope to understand the molecular basis of the normal state and the diseased state of life on one hand, and develop ways to individualize medicine and nutrition on the other hand. Thus, the science of genomics that has grown out of this genome sequencing effort is expected to revolutionize the future of biology itself. The present article is an attempt to briefly summarize some major landmarks in the path that began with the discovery of "nuclein" and led to the completion of the human genome sequencing.