In the words of President Bill Clinton on June 26, 2000, at the joint announcement made by both public and private initiatives for completion of the human genome map:

We are here to celebrate the completion of the first survey of the entire human genome. Without a doubt, this is the most important, most wonderous map ever produced by humankind....With this profound new knowledge, humankind is on the verge of gaining immense new power to heal...

As President Clinton said that day was "a day for the ages" on June 26, 2000, when the Human Genome Project (funded by the US National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Energy) and Celera Genomics announced jointly that they had each completed the rough draft sequence of an average person's DNA. The intense competition between these two organizations ultimately resulted in a coordination of efforts to make this research a joint public announcement. This announcement heralded in a revolution in medical care, where serious diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's disease, or diabetes, may be prevented or cured through genetic medicine. The complete sequence of the human genome was finished in 2003, and since then, the term Personalized Medicine popularized the use of genetics and genomics in routine medical care. Like other medical revolutions, it is hard for the average person to envision how much medicine has and will change because of this news. However, not many of us can really envision medicine without penicillin or insulin or anesthesia.

What does the genetic revolution mean to you? Your genetic inheritance, the genes you inherited from your parents at conception, controls not only your hair and eye color, but also your risks for contracting cancer, how quickly you learn, and all other bodily functions just as a blueprint controls how a building is built. The genes produce products that interact with each other in complex ways. If a disease runs in your family, it is because of genetics. If you don't become ill with heart disease, cancer or other major disorders, it may also be due to genetics. Your doctor may need to run genetic tests before starting you on a variety of medicines that may work differently in your body compared to other patients. And with the first major step of decoding the DNA of a human, medical research now will have the base for finding all of the genes, discovering their functions and products, and understanding how the products interact.

To read more about the Human Genome Project and where it is going in the future, you may wish to browse the following articles:

With this profound new knowledge, genome science will have a real impact on all our lives. Global TeleGenetics GeneScene Screens can give you an idea of your risks for developing diseases. If your screening questionnaire informs you that genetic counseling is recommended, your risk may be higher than the average person. You can take this opportunity to change your lifestyle or behaviors to help prevent specific diseases. You may be the appropriate person to participate in a new medical therapy. Find out for yourself and for your family.