The public and private sector human genome projects announced the publication of their first analyses of the human DNA sequence yesterday in the journals Nature and Science, respectively.

Summary

In a press conference moderated by Dr. Ari Patrinos, Associate Director for Biological and Environmental Research in the Office of Science, over 150 print and television reporters heard from Dr. Francis Collins, Head of the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium, Dr. Craig Venter, President of Celera Genomics Corporation, and several other scientists about many of the initial discoveries made on the first analysis of the human DNA sequence. Special recognition was given to Nobel Laureate Dr. James Watson, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA and the first director of the National Institutes of Health’s human genome program and to Senator Peter Domenici (R, NM) for his role in providing congressional support for the Human Genome Project. The genome editions of Nature and Science will be published February 15 and 16, respectively.