In recent years, researchers have made tremendous progress in
sequencing the genomes of humans and other organisms. Scientists
use DNA sequence data to help find genes, which are the parts of
the genome that code for proteins. However, the protein-encoding
component of DNA comprises just a small fraction of the genome,
accounting for roughly 1.5 percent of the genetic material of
humans and other mammals. There is compelling evidence that
other parts of the genome must have important functions, but at
present there is only very limited information available about
how these other parts work. "The Human Genome Project has
provided us with a wonderful foundation, but obviously having
the human genomic sequence is not enough. We must keep on
exploring this newfound wealth of knowledge if we are to realize
the full potential of genome research to improve human health,"
said NHGRI Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., who led the
public effort to sequence all 3 billion base pairs in human DNA.
"Our experimental