TED-Ed: The race to sequence the human genome - Tien Nguyen

The Human Genome Project, launched in 1990, aimed to sequence the entire human genome over 15 years with $3 billion in public funds. In 1998, Celera, a private company, entered the race, promising to complete the task faster and cheaper. Both teams used different sequencing strategies: the Human Genome Project employed a hierarchical shotgun approach, while Celera used whole genome shotgun sequencing. Despite their differences, both teams published working drafts of over 90% of the human genome in 2001, ahead of schedule. The Human Genome Project's open data sharing accelerated research and fostered international collaboration. The project has since led to significant advances in genomics, though understanding gene functions remains a challenge.

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