jan 1, 2003 - 2003: The Human Genome Project is completed

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History was made in 2003 when the Human Genome Project was finally completed. The international research project could be described as the greatest journey ever made – albeit an inwards one.

Scientists had achieved a high-quality sequence of the entire human genome. In 2001, the Human Genome Project had published a 'rough draft' of the human genome, which included a 90% sequence of all three billion base pairs.

Following this, scientists pursued the second stage of the project – the finishing phase. During this time, researchers filled in the gaps and resolved DNA features in ambiguous areas until they had completed 99% of the human genome in final form.

This final form contains 2.85 billion nucleotides, with a predicted error rate of just 1 event in every 100,000 bases sequenced. Surprises included the relatively small number of protein-encoding genes (between 20,000 and 25,000) and that there were similar genes with the same functions present in different species.

When you consider that less than 200 years previously, pioneers like Charles Darwin were only beginning to suspect characteristics could be inherited, it's mind-boggling what scientists have managed to achieve.

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