Project Timeline
February, 1988 - Beginning of the planning stage of the Human Genome Project

October, 1989 - The United States establishes National Center for Human Genome Research. James Watson, co-discovered of DNA’s double helix, is named the first director.

October 1, 1990 - Human Genome Project officially begins

April 1995 - Task Force on Genetic Testing is established to discuss ethical, legal and social issues

April 1996 - First full eukaryotic genome is sequenced, brewer’s yeast

October 1996 - 16,000 genes of the human genome have been mapped

November, 1996 - Identification of first gene relating to Parkinson’s disease, and male prostate cancer

May 1997 - Identification of genes that may cause breast cancer

July 1997 - Map of human chromosome 7 is completed

December 1997 - Identification of a gene that causes Pendred Syndrome (a form of deafness)

September 1998 - Identification of a gene for prostate cancer located on the X chromosome

December 1998 - Full genome of the roundworm is sequenced

March 1999 - Large scale sequencing of the human genome begins

March 2000 - Full genome of the fruit fly is sequenced

May 2000 - Human chromosome 21 is sequenced by a team of Japanese and German scientists

June 2000 - 85 % of the human genome has been sequenced

February 2001 - Scientists changed old estimation of 100,000 genes for human beings down to 30,000-40,000

March 2001 - Identification of tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 7

September 2002 - Identification of gene that causes microcephaly, a rare brain disorder affecting infants

December, 2002 - Mouse genome is sequenced

April, 2003 - Human genome is sequenced, but not fully analyzed

April 2003 - Identification of gene that causes premature aging

December 2003 - Chimpanzee genome sequenced and compared to human genome

January 2004 - First successful transgenic animal is created

March 2004 - Chicken genome sequenced

March 2004 - Identification of gene that predisposes people to type 2 diabetes

March 2004 - Rat genome sequenced

June 2004 - Melbourne-based Australian Genome Research Facility Ltd. begins work on tammar wallaby genome

July 2004 - Dog genome sequenced

October 2004 - Scientists again reduce the number of genes in the human genome from 35,000 to 20,000-25,000