The Gene Revolution

Author: Bai Xuan, edited by Liu Yu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-09-01
Features: The 20th century was the century of physics, and the 21st century is the century of life. This judgment will soon bring a sense of early summer. To better face this biological century, let us start from genes and the Human Genome Project. On June 26, 2000, national leaders from the United States, the United Kingdom, and China announced the completion of the nearly decade-long Human Genome Project. Major global media covered this historic event in considerable detail, comparing the project to the famous Manhattan Project and the Apollo Moon Landing Project of the 20th century. Since Mendel proposed the laws of inheritance in the last century, countless scientists in the 20th century have worked to unravel this mystery of human life. In the mid-20th century, Watson and Crick discovered the double helix structure of DNA, allowing humanity to gradually understand genes from the level of molecular biology. By this time, with genetic engineering at the forefront, a series of rapid advances in biotechnology had made humans more aware of the immense productive power of biotechnology in future science. However, without knowing the location and function of all genes—only the positions of a few thousand genes on chromosomes—such biotechnological means still fell short of fully understanding the complexities of living organisms. Despite the remarkable achievements of biotechnology later on, people still needed to thoroughly explore the entire genome. It is well known that our lives and diseases are closely related to the information carried by these tiny genes. So, should we proceed piece by piece, or should international cooperation be organized to fully sequence the human genome once and for all? This became a crucial task for scientists and governments. In 1985, American scientist Ricardo DuBrock first proposed the Human Genome Project, and in 1990, the U.S. government officially launched it. Later, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Germany, and finally China joined this great endeavor. To promote the significance of this scientific project, governments and scientists around the world made significant efforts to educate the public about the profound impact of genome sequencing on the future. Many social and ethical issues related to the gene revolution and biotechnology were widely discussed in Western societies at various levels. In comparison, China's promotion in this area was relatively late and its science popularization efforts were weak, so many people only gradually learned about the Human Genome Project through various media outlets after the announcement. During the implementation of the Human Genome Project, countless upright scientists, in their confrontation with profit-driven private companies, upheld the fairness and openness of the project with noble spirit and also shaped the spirit of the International Human Genome Project (HGP) with new concepts. The International Human Genome Treaty, formed in 1997, was approved by UNESCO and became the first declaration in history concerning scientific research. It fully reflects the potential economic, ethical, legal, and social impacts of the "Human Genome Project" and, due to its urgency and seriousness, has become a part of the guiding principles for humanity in the 21st-century biological century. It established four fundamental principles: human dignity and equality, freedom of scientific research, harmony among humans, and international cooperation. Chinese scientists joined this project in 1998. They not only completed 1% of this milestone work through their own efforts but also strived to keep China's genomic science in sync with the international community. With a sense of anxiety and perseverance, they introduced the important characteristics of the future biological century to the Chinese people. It was precisely this anxiety and urgency that inspired us to compile this book, integrating various sources and including historical retrospectives and accounts from scientists involved in the project. Our goal is to provide deeper knowledge and insights than previous news reports, enabling readers to feel the urgency of the biological century as keenly as we do. The 20th century was the century of physics, and the 21st century is the century of biology. This judgment will soon bring a sense of reality. To better face this biological century, let us start from genes and the Human Genome Project!