The Human Genome Project

Inside every cell in your body, there is a set of instructions called DNA. The Human Genome Project was a big science project that read all of those instructions for the first time. Thousands of scientists from around the world worked on it. It took 13 years to finish.

What the Project Did

The Human Genome Project started in 1990 and was finished in 2003. Scientists figured out the order of over 3 billion tiny chemical pieces that make up human DNA. These pieces are like letters in a very long book. Reading them helped scientists understand how our bodies grow and work.

Why It Matters

Knowing our DNA helps doctors understand diseases better. Some illnesses are caused by mistakes in the DNA code. By reading the code, scientists can find these mistakes and look for cures. The project has led to new medicines and tests that help people stay healthy.

Fun Facts

• If you stretched out all the DNA in one cell, it would be about 6 feet long.
• Humans share about 99.9 percent of their DNA with each other.
• The Human Genome Project cost about 2.7 billion dollars.

Did You Know?

Humans share about 60 percent of their DNA with bananas, which shows how connected all living things are.