On June 26, 2000, scientists announced the completion of the mapping of the human genome. While there is still much work to do, experts agree that this accomplishment is enormously important. Below we have assembled some reactions and commentary on the event:


In an historic breakthrough, scientists from two competing projects to create a human genetic blueprint declared Monday that the job was essentially complete. Scientists say the achievement will turn out to be one of the greatest contributions to science in the 21st century.       --USA Today, June 27, 2000 


What we've done today is draw a bright line in history. In 10 or 20 years, it will be clear how science and medicine changed. The next stage of the process is the interpretation phase. That is really the fun part of the whole project because we have to discover what it all means.                                  --Craig Ventor, Celera Genomics


Seldom in science is there really a Eureka moment when months or years of work come together so nicely you can say, "We did it!" But this is one of those times. "I feel like I've touched the sun and the stars and the moon all at one time" This is what the world's corps of genome scientists must be feeling today. There is a rush that comes when work of earthshaking significance is done.
                                                                          --Barbara Culliton, Celera Genomics

It's hard to overstate the importance of reading our own instruction book, and that's what the Human Genome Project is all about. We are engaged right now in an intense effort involving quite a large number of people to dig out what the interesting features are, determine how many genes there are, see what they look like, how they are organized along chromosomes, how they fit together and how the sequences snuggle up next to each other. These are all answerable questions with the working draft.
                                     --Francis Collins, M.D., Director of the Human Genome Project


It will be a long time before each of us has our own genetic bar code when we go into the drug stores, but not that far away is the ability to develop more drugs a lot more quickly.                                                 --Steve Kay, Ph.D., Scripps Research Institute


To understand the enormous problem of finding a gene somewhere on an individual's strand of DNA, imagine that a single human genome is long enough to circle the globe. On this scale, the amount of DNA in a chromosome would extend for a thousand miles. A gene would span just one twentieth of a mile, and a disease-causing defect--a point mutation, a change in only one DNA base pair--could run as short as one twentieth of an inch. What we are thus searching for is comparable to a fraction of an inch on the circumference of the globe! In this immense morass of DNA, finding the exact address of a gene and pinpointing its fault makes for extremely tough going, and it requires all of the creativity and ingenuity of everyone engaged in the quest.
                                                  --Nancy S. Wexler, M.D. in Clairvoyance and Caution

More quotes....

How scientists decode DNA
From DNA to a human
Two fascinating interactive presentations from the BBC with clickable graphic illustrations. 

Scientists crack genetic code
BBC special report, June 27, 2000 plus "What the genome can do for you," "Genome: rights and wrongs" and other news on genetics.

Quiz: The numbers game
Test your basic knowledge with this BBC interactive quiz on the genetic blueprint.


For an updated list of known mutations found in the CPT2 gene, visit Keep the change. 

For information about mutation screening for people with CPT II deficiency, visit On the spot.