Beyond the genome: YOU'VE BEEN DECODED, again

Intelligent flash storage arrays

Most people have heard of the human genome project (HGP), few have yet heard of the human proteome project (HPP) but it is going to transform your life in a far more fundamental way than the HGP never did.

The human genome project was completed in April 2003 - we are currently the only species known to have deciphered its own code. Our genome is the code that defines us. In one sense we all share the human genome, but each of us has our own unique version (which is what makes us individuals and not clones) and a copy is to be found in every cell of our bodies.

Technically, the genome is held in the nucleus of the cell and not all cells have a nucleus (red blood cells do not, for instance), so it's more accurate to refer to every nucleated cell of our bodies". Also, identical twins share genomes so the genome isnt unique for every single individual.

The HGP was a massive effort, excellently documented by Nobel prize winner John Sulston and Georgina Ferry in The Common Thread: A Story of Science, Politics, Ethics and the Human Genome.

Genes are simply the blueprint of the body, so when you become ill, the blueprint isnt affected but your proteins are. Drugs that we take to cure illness or ameliorate symptoms do not work on your genes, they interfere (in a good way) with your proteins

I, and many other people, regard the HGP as one of the major pinnacles of scientific achievement. The guys who did it were working right at the forefront of what could be achieved at the time - both in terms of the biology and the computing. Not only that, they ensured that the rights to the human genome belong to all of us and not to a corporation (it was a close run thing, but read the book for more info.)

The HGP was also heralded as work that would change medicine forever by opening the floodgates for a whole new range of drugs and treatments. So why hasnt this happened yet? The simple answer is that most illnesses dont attack the genome, they attack the proteome.

Whats the proteome? Well, it's the sum total of all of the proteins in your body. So when you look at me you see the proteome not the genome. We can also say that the proteome is the expression of the genome because our genes tell our body what proteins to make and proteins are the functional molecules in a human body.

The genome isnt unique for every single individual (twins), but its still the code that defines us

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Beyond the genome: YOU'VE BEEN DECODED, again