have aided researchers seeking genes associated with dozens of genetic conditions, including inherited colon cancer, Alzheimers disease, and familial breast cancer. Also, molecular medicine will benefit with the improved diagnosis of disease, rational drug design, gene therapy and pharmaceutical custom drugs. Another area that will benefit is that of Microbial Genetics. Despite our reliance on the inhabitants of the microbial world, we know little of their number or their nature.: estimates are that less than 0.01% of all microbes have been identified. Also, expected benefits include developments of diverse new products, processes, and test methods that will open the door to a cleaner environment. Biomanufacturing will use nontoxic chemicals and enzymes to reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of industrial processes. Already, microbial enzymes are being used to bleach paper pulp, stone wash denim, remove lipstick from glassware and break down starch in brewing. Risk assessment is something else that will come from the project. This involves assessing health damage and risks caused by radiation exposure,including low-dose exposures, assessing health damage and risks caused by exposure to mutagencic chemicals and cancer causing toxins, and reducing the likelihood of heritable mutations. Understanding genomics will help us understand human evolution and the common biology we share with all of life. Comparative genomics between humans and other organisms such as mice already has led to similar genes associated with diseases and traits. Further comparative studies will help determine the yet unknown function of thousands of other genes. Comparing the DNA sequences of entire genomes of different microbes will provide new insights about relationships amount the three kingdoms of life: archeabacteria, eukaryotesand prokaryotes. DNA forensics or DNA fingerprinting is another area that will be greatly affected by the completion of the pro...
