1. Cracking the Code of Life
By: Grace Trainor

2. What is the Human Genome Project?
 Decoding the Human Genome—meaning interpreting the
genetic code
 The DNA Sequencing is used to determine the exact
sequence of bases (A, C, G, T) in a DNA Molecule
 Goals of the Project: To discover what the instruction code is
telling scientists and to understand the differences in DNA
and where/what certain alleles are located on the
chromosomes
 Knowing the code tells us…(1) What genes will be passed
down, (2) How the DNA works and what it carries

3. Now, Locate the Genome
http://goo.gl/nK4gMt

4. Contributions that the Human Genome
could make…
 A lot of genetic disorders occur due to a single base change
(displacement of one single letter—A, T, C, G—can lead to
many deficiencies and a change in the genome)
 With the Human Genome, scientists would be able to find
out what exactly is going wrong with the sequence of DNA,
genes, and proteins
 The information would also tells us what people are at risk for
certain diseases, early on (such as TaySach’s and Cystic Fibrosis)


5. Timeline of the Human Genome Project
http://goo.gl/AVfZVZ

6. Who is helping with the Human Genome
Project?
 CRAIG VENTER
 Scientist and Entrepreneur—FIRST to sequence the Human
Genome
 Created company CELERA: holds machines that decodes genome
at an incredibly fast pace (take ONLY 2 YEARS to complete)
 Company created competition between private
and public companies—race to see
who can decode the genome first
 Private: Receive $$ from investors and information
may by private
 Public: Receive $$ from government and free
information to everyone
http://goo.gl/lCJMwx

7. Don’t Forget!
 Not only is studying the genes and genomes important, but
also PROTEOMES
 What is Proteome, you may ask?
 The collection of Proteins
 Why is Proteome important, you may ask?
 Genes make up ALL proteins AND proteins do all the work in the
cell
  Studying the Genes—must understand Proteins (vice versa) to
discover functions in the body

8. Fun Facts: Did you know…
 50% of the genes in bananas are in HUMANS!
 ALL HUMANS share 99.9% of their DNA
 98% of our DNA has a largely unknown function (based on
the 2001 documentary), however Scientists now challenge
this belief by stating that 80% of our genes ARE active

Read this article from Times Magazine for more information:
http://healthland.time.com/2012/09/06/junk-dna-not-souseless-after-all/

9. And YOU can watch this AMAZING
documentary RIGHT NOW! 
http://video.pbs.org/video/1841308959/
For even more information, Visit…
http://www.genome.gov/10001772