So, what is a human genome and why is the government researching it? The human genome is the sequence of approximately 20,000 genes that make up human deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), or the building blocks that tell cells what to do. The government project called the Human Genome Project (HGP) began in the 1990s and attempts to unravel the 3 billion chemical base pairs in a strand of DNA (http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub /physician-resources/ Medical-science/genetics-molecular-medicine/current-topics/human-genome.shtml.) DNA is composed of phosphates, sugars and amino acids, adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C) and guanine (G). Each amino acid is paired with its opposite, A is always paired with T and C with G. These pairings in a specific order create codes that cells use as instructions for making proteins that perform specific functions in cells. The goal of the HGP is to identify all genes in human DNA, store the information in a database, while improving the tools used to sequence DNA (Toriello, p. 15-28.) The project must also face the ethical questions that arise from it. from these experiences. In 2003, after 13 years, a complete strand of DNA was decoded. Of course, each person's DNA is unique, except for identical twins, so there is still a lot of work to be done to make this technology useful in everyday life. Once a strand of DNA is sequenced, there are many ways to use the information found in it. One possibility is to discover which genes influence the development of diseases, such as cancer, malformations or Alzheimer's disease, to name just a few. If you know that you have the gene on chromosome 19 associated with Alzheimer's disease, there may be ways to treat the disease earlier, slow its progression, or even prevent it. At the very least, the family can prepare middle of paper... destroying our world for good. Works cited by Puck, Jennifer, Malech and Harry. National Human Genome Research Institute, Directorate of Genetics and Molecular Biology. January 31, 2006. January 1, 2010. https://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=154080.Human Genome. 1995. American Medical Association. January 1, 2010. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-science/genetics-molecular-medicine/current-topics/human-genome.shtml Carroll, Sean. The making of the fittest. New York: Julia Druskin, 2006.Nicolson, Cynthia. Bleating. Toronto: Kids Can Press Ltd, 2001. Gralla, Jay. Understanding cloning. Indianapolis: Marie Butler-Knight, 2004. Walker, Richard. Genes and DNA. Boston: Kingfisher, 2003. Toriello, James. The Human Genome Project. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, 2003. Fridell, Ron. Genetic engineering. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company, 2006.