The Impact of the Completed Human Genome Sequence on the Development of Novel Therapeutics for Human Disease*

With the official completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003, we have both the opportunity and the imperative to translate this unprecedented scientific accomplishment into tangible improvements in human health. Medical benefits from the genome will come in stages and can be conceptualized as occurring in three areas: improved understanding of disease causation at the molecular level, improved diagnosis and disease classification based on genetic profiles, and new therapeutics based on targets identified in the genome. These improvements will require increased physician understanding of genetic principles applied to common diseases.