UCSC Genome Bioinformatics - Apr. 14, 2003.
The International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium today announced the successful completion of the Human Genome Project. The most significant outcome of this project is the reference sequence of the human genome. The sequencing of the 3 billion letters of DNA in the human genome - which many consider to be one of the most ambitious scientific undertakings in history - was completed 2 years ahead of schedule and at substantially less cost than original estimates. The reference sequence will serve as a new foundation for research in the fields of medicine and human biology.
In conjunction with this announcement, the UCSC Genome Bioinformatics group is proud to release a genome browser and BLAT server on the reference sequence. The reference sequence covers about 99 percent of the human genome's gene-containing regions, and has been sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99 percent. The missing portions are essentially contained in less than 400 defined gaps that represent DNA regions with unusual structures that can't be reliably sequenced using current technology.