A quarter of a century ago, one of the world\u2019s most significant scientific achievements was announced.<\/p>\n
The first draft of the human genome \u2013 our genetic blueprint \u2013 was published on 26 June, 2000. It had taken 10 years to sequence that draft.<\/p>\n
Prof Matt Hurles, director of the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Picture: Onur Pinar \/ Wellcome Sanger Institute<\/p>\n
Today, facilities at the Wellcome Sanger Institute can sequence the equivalent of one gold-standard human genome every 11 minutes and 48 seconds.<\/p>\n
The institute in Hinxton played a leading role in the Human Genome Project, contributing nearly a third of the sequence. And it has been looking ahead to how genomics will shape research for the next 25 years and what it means for global human and planetary health.<\/p>\n
Prof Matt Hurles, the director at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: \u201cThe 25 years since the announcement of the completion of the human genome have transformed our understanding of biology in both predicted and unpredicted ways. Now, we are looking to the future, applying the same collaborative approach to new, ambitious projects that aim to continue to build on the legacy of the Human Genome Project.\u201d<\/p>\n
The institute now aims to understand the impacts of every single genetic change<\/a> in the genome and is exploring how to use genomics to shape clinical practice.<\/p>\n It is also on a mission to create a genetic record of all life on Earth, and is using genomics to help stop the spread of diseases.<\/p>\n New sequencing technologies now mean high-resolution genomic data can be produced at scale and the application of artificial intelligence is helping scientists to analyse, model and understand the data in new ways.<\/p>\n