The Human Genome Project has transformed the field of human genetics into one that holds the most promise for technological discoveries in the new millennium. In his 1997 State of the Union address, President Clinton named the Human Genome Project first in a list of advances in medical science. In a subsequent speech, he called the next 50 years the "new age of biology," as science continues to unravel the mysteries of human existence.
Genetic conditions affect all economic, social, and racial groups and impact on the health of family members for generations. It is evident that genetics plays a significant role in most common diseases, which places this discipline among the top medical priorities in advanced nations. Therefore, it's ironic that these technological advances have consistently failed to meet the needs of racial or ethnic minorities, who traditionally suffer from poorer health than do non-Hispanic whites. Moreover, communities of ...
