title: Primer on medical genomics part I: History of genetics and sequencing of the human genome.
abstract: In comparison with most other disciplines of science, the field of genetics is still in its youth. The majority of scientific work in genetics has been done in the past 150 years. The successful preliminary sequencing of the human genome was announced in 2001. Nonetheless, interest in heredity and in other concepts within the field of genetics has existed since the beginning of humanity. This article provides an account of the history of genetics, spanning from humankind's initial attempts to understand and influence heredity, to the early scientific work in the field of genetics, and subsequently to the advancements in modern genetics. Additionally, the Human Genome Project is summarized, from inception to publication of the 'first draft" of the human genome sequence.
authors.affiliation: Division of Laboratory Genetics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Cindy Pham
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lorentz
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Wieben
authors.forename: Ayale
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tefferi
authors.forename: David A H
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Whiteman
authors.forename: Gordon W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Dewald
mesh_terms: D005544:Forecasting; D005823:Genetics / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends; D005826:Genetics, Medical / Q000266:history* / Q000639:trends; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D016045:Human Genome Project / Q000266:history*; D006801:Humans; D010597:Pharmacogenetics