The Human Genome Project (HGP), launched in 1990 and completed in 2003, aimed to identify all human genes and sequence the 3 billion base pairs of human DNA. This groundbreaking effort was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, achieving its goal of mapping approximately 20,000-25,000 genes. The project has revolutionized medicine by enhancing our understanding of genetic diseases, paving the way for personalized medicine, and enabling targeted therapies.
Yesterday, I saw two patients with rare genetic diseases: one detected through a screening program and given appropriate nutritional supplementation, and another without such supplementation. The difference in cognitive decline, dependence on parents, and multiple comorbidities only reinforced what we already know: genomics allows us to prevent!
When we understand the story of #genomics, we can understand diseases better. This means we can diagnose them quicker, treat them more effectively, and even prevent them.