Scientists Finish Decoding Human Genome

MAR 31 2022·Updated JAN 23 2023

Story

Image credit: AP Images [via New York Post]

The Facts

On Thurs., researchers announced that, more than two decades after its very first draft, the human genome has finally been fully mapped.
USA Today
The first mapping occurred in 2000, but was missing around 8% of the complete genome due to DNA sequencing technologies' inability to read certain parts.
New York Post
The new research was a collaborative effort between almost 100 scientists and was published in the journal Science.
Global News
The group is now working to generate high-quality genome sequencing for 350 people from different backgrounds in an effort to capture the full diversity of the human race.
wapo
Although researchers indicate that it may be years before a tangible reward is seen, the new information could give insight into human development, aging, and diseases including cancer.
New York Post

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The Spin

Narrative A

This is a historic scientific achievement. Mapping the human genome has been an ongoing project for decades with many milestones along the way, and the work is never complete. This huge breakthrough brings us closer to a future where all the variants in a person's DNA will be identifiable - something that could lead to major advances in healthcare.

Scientific American

Narrative B

We need to be very careful of "gene hype." While researching the human genome has huge potential benefits for medicine and our understanding of human diversity and origins, a blizzard of misleading rhetoric has contributed to a widespread and dangerous misunderstanding of genes. Concerningly, arguments about eugenics and "innate" racial characteristics have re-entered public discourse. We would be wise to proceed cautiously.

The Guardian