restindex
format: html 
page-title: Other Anticipated Benefits of Genetic Research
crumb: Benefits
/restindex

Other Anticipated Benefits of
Genetic Research

Genomics and Its Impact on Science and Society: The Human
Genome Project and Beyond

Primer - History - Insights -
Medicine
- Benefits - Concerns -
Beyond - Systems - Microbes - Dictionary - Home

Technologies, Resources Having
Major Impacts
 Rapid progress in
genome science and a glimpse into its potential applications have
spurred observers to predict that biology will be the foremost
science of the 21st Century. Technology and resources generated by
the Human Genome Project and other genomic research already are
having major impacts on research across the life sciences. Doubling
in size in 10 years, the biotechnology industry generated 191,000
direct jobs and 535,000 indirect jobs in 2001. Revenues for that
year totaled more than $20 billion directly and $28.5 billion
indirectly.*

A list of some current
and potential applications of genome research follows. More studies
and public discussion are required for eventual validation and
implementation of some of these uses (see p. 8).

Molecular
Medicine

- Improve diagnosis of
disease

- Detect genetic
predispositions to disease

- Create drugs based on
molecular information

- Use gene therapy and
control systems as drugs

- Design “custom
drugs” based on individual genetic profiles

Microbial
Genomics

- Rapidly detect and
treat pathogens (disease-causing microbes) in clinical
practice

- Develop new energy
sources (biofuels)

- Monitor environments
to detect pollutants

- Protect citizenry
from biological and chemical warfare

- Clean up toxic waste
safely and efficiently

Risk
Assessment

- Evaluate the health
risks faced by individuals who may be exposed to radiation
(including low levels in industrial areas) and to cancer-causing
chemicals and toxins

Bioarchaeology,
Anthropology, Evolution, and Human Migration

- Study evolution
through germline mutations in lineages

- Study migration of
different population groups based on maternal genetic
inheritance

- Study mutations on
the Y chromosome to trace lineage and migration of
males

- Compare breakpoints
in the evolution of mutations with ages of populations and
historical events

DNA
Identification

- Identify potential
suspects whose DNA may match evidence left at crime
scenes

- Exonerate persons
wrongly accused of crimes

- Identify crime,
catastrophe, and other victims

- Establish paternity
and other family relationships

- Identify endangered
and protected species as an aid to wildlife officials (could be
used for prosecuting poachers)

- Detect bacteria and
other organisms that may pollute air, water, soil, and
food

- Match organ donors
with recipients in transplant programs

- Determine pedigree
for seed or livestock breeds

- Authenticate
consumables such as caviar and wine

Agriculture, Livestock
Breeding, and Bioprocessing

- Grow disease-,
insect-, and drought-resistant crops

- Breed healthier, more
productive, disease-resistant farm animals

- Grow more nutritious
produce

- Develop
biopesticides

- Incorporate edible
vaccines into food products

- Develop new
environmental cleanup uses for plants like tobacco

 

Primer - History - Insights -
Medicine
- Benefits - Concerns -
Beyond - Systems - Microbes - Dictionary - Home

 The online presentation of this publication is a special
feature of the Human Genome
Project Information Web site (http://www.ornl.gov/TechResources/Human_Genome/).

