What 'EXPERIMENT' did Craig Venter & Francis Collins do in the Human Genome Project?
Any links would be great! I've found a lot of info. on what it is, but I'm looking for info on what they did to get there.
Try this link and see if it helps you any. the human genome project in google.
It only brought me back up to this page.
Craig Venter and Francis Collins were both heavily involved in the Human Genome Project (HGP), a monumental scientific endeavor aimed at determining the sequence of the entire human genome. While they led different institutions and collaborated on different aspects of the project, I can provide you with an overview of some key experiments and techniques employed during the HGP.
The HGP was not a single experiment but rather a massive international effort involving many experiments and strategies. The main goal was to decipher the sequence of the approximately 3 billion DNA base pairs that make up the human genome. To achieve this, several complementary approaches were used:
1. Mapping: The first step was to develop genetic and physical maps of the human genome. DNA from different individuals was analyzed to identify common genetic markers, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). By comparing the inheritance patterns of these markers among families, researchers created a genetic map that provided a rough framework for the location of genes on different chromosomes. Physical maps were also constructed to pinpoint the order and overlap of DNA fragments.
2. DNA Sequencing: The actual sequencing of the genome involved breaking down the DNA into smaller fragments, then determining the sequence of each fragment. The fragments were cloned into bacterial cells and subjected to a technique called Sanger sequencing. Sanger sequencing uses modified DNA building blocks (dideoxynucleotides) that halt DNA replication at specific points, allowing the sequence to be read. This process was repeated iteratively to generate overlapping sequences for the entire genome.
3. Shotgun Sequencing: As the project progressed, a sequencing strategy called shotgun sequencing was introduced. Instead of cloning large DNA fragments, the genome was randomly fragmented into smaller pieces, which were sequenced independently. Powerful computer algorithms were used to assemble the sequences, much like a puzzle, by identifying overlapping regions.
Craig Venter, along with his team at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), played a significant role in developing the whole-genome shotgun sequencing approach. This method allowed for faster and more efficient sequencing than the traditional Sanger method.
For more detailed information on the experiments and techniques employed during the HGP, you can refer to the following resources:
1. The official Human Genome Project website maintained by the U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI): https://www.genome.gov/human-genome-project/
2. The book "The Genome War: How Craig Venter Tried to Capture the Code of Life and Save the World" by James Shreeve provides an in-depth account of the scientific and personal rivalries during the HGP.
3. Scientific papers published by Venter, Collins, and other researchers involved in the HGP can be found through various scientific journals and databases like PubMed.
Remember to always verify information from reputable sources and scientific literature to ensure accuracy and reliability.