This human genome program had an unusual origin. It was not initiated by a committee of molecular geneticists dealing with a pressing need, or by the major biomedical funding agency, the National Institutes of Health. Instead, it was advanced by an administrator in the Department of Energy, convinced that with the powerful tools of molecular biology it was now time to introduce centrally administered "big science" into biomedical research.
The idea quick-ly developed strong political appeal. Sequencing the entire human genome was as definite and as highly visible as putting a man on the moon; it promised large benefits for human health and for our understanding of human biology; and it was claimed to be more efficient and cheaper than reaching the goal eventually by piecemeal sequencing. The NIH was initially not supportive, but when the program proved to be inevitable, it became the logical major partner. The HGP has ...
