Difference between revisions of "The human genome project completion announcement by Bill Clinton"

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<p>&nbsp;</p>
 
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="margin: auto 0cm"><b><font size="4"><span style="font-size: 10pt">PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST SURVEY OF THE ENTIRE HUMAN GENOME Hails Public and Private Efforts Leading to This Historic Achievement </span></font></b></div>
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<p>PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST SURVEY OF THE ENTIRE HUMAN GENOME Hails Public and Private Efforts Leading to This Historic Achievement <br />
<pre>
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<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
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THE WHITE HOUSE<br />
<pre><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; THE WHITE HOUSE</span></pre>
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<br />
<pre>
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Office of the Press Secretary<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
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<br />
<pre><span>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Office of the Press Secretary</span></pre>
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___________________________________________________________________________<br />
<pre>
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For Immediate Release June 25, 2000<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
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<br />
<pre>
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<br />
___________________________________________________________________________</pre>
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<br />
<pre>
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<br />
For Immediate Release<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; June 25, 2000</span></pre>
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PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST<br />
<pre>
+
SURVEY OF THE ENTIRE HUMAN GENOME<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
Hails Public and Private Efforts Leading to This Historic Achievement<br />
<pre>
+
June 26, 2000<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
<br />
<pre>
+
<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
Today, at a historic White House event with British Prime Minister Tony<br />
<pre>
+
Blair, President Clinton announced that the international Human Genome<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
Project and Celera Genomics Corporation have both completed an initial<br />
<pre><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: 11pt">PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST</span></pre>
+
sequencing of the human genome -- the genetic blueprint for human beings.<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SURVEY OF THE ENTIRE HUMAN GENOME</span></pre>
+
He congratulated the scientists working in both the public and private<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">&nbsp;&nbsp; Hails Public and Private Efforts Leading to This Historic Achievement</span></pre>
+
sectors on this landmark achievement, which promises to lead to a new era<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; June 26, 2000</span></pre>
+
of molecular medicine, an era that will bring new ways to prevent,<br />
<pre>
+
diagnose, treat and cure disease. The President pledged to continue and<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
accelerate the United States' commitment to helping translate this<br />
<pre>
+
blueprint into novel healthcare strategies and therapies. He will<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
underscore that this genetic information must never be used to stigmatize<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">Today, at a historic White House event with British Prime Minister Tony</span></pre>
+
or discriminate against any individual or group. Our scientific advances<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">Blair, President Clinton announced that the international Human Genome</span></pre>
+
must always incorporate our most cherished values, and the privacy of this<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">Project and Celera Genomics Corporation have both completed an initial</span></pre>
+
new information must be protected.<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">sequencing of the human genome -- the genetic blueprint for human beings.</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">He congratulated the scientists working in both the public and private</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">sectors on this landmark achievement, which promises to lead to a new era</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">of molecular medicine, an era that will bring new ways to prevent,</span></pre>
+
DECODING THE HUMAN GENOME WILL LEAD TO NEW WAYS TO PREVENT, DIAGNOSE,<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">diagnose, treat and cure disease.&nbsp;The President pledged to continue and</span></pre>
+
TREAT, AND CURE DISEASE. Alterations in our genes are responsible for an<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">accelerate the United States' commitment to helping translate this</span></pre>
+
estimated 5000 clearly hereditary diseases, such as Huntington's disease,<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">blueprint into novel healthcare strategies and therapies.&nbsp;He will</span></pre>
+
cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia, and influence the development of<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">underscore that this genetic information must never be used to stigmatize</span></pre>
+
thousands of other diseases. Before the advent of the Human Genome<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">or discriminate against any individual or group.&nbsp;Our scientific advances</span></pre>
+
Project, a joint project of HHS, DOE, and international partners in the<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">must always incorporate our most cherished values, and the privacy of this</span></pre>
+
United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, China, connecting a gene with a<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">new information must be protected.</span></pre>
+
disease was a slow, arduous, painstaking, and frequently imprecise process.<br />
<pre>
+
Today, genes are discovered and described within days. For example, in<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
1989, scientists found the gene for cystic fibrosis after a 9-year search;<br />
<pre>
+
eight years later, largely because of the coordinated efforts of the Human<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
Genome Project, a gene for Parkinson's disease was mapped in only 9 days.<br />
<pre>
+
Now, scientists will be able to use the working draft of the human genome<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">DECODING THE HUMAN GENOME WILL LEAD TO NEW WAYS TO PREVENT, DIAGNOSE,</span></pre>
+
to:<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">TREAT, AND CURE DISEASE.&nbsp;Alterations in our genes are responsible for an</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">estimated 5000 clearly hereditary diseases, such as Huntington's disease,</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia, and influence the development of</span></pre>
+
* Alert patients that they are at risk for certain diseases. Once<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">thousands of other diseases.&nbsp;Before the advent of the Human Genome</span></pre>
+
scientists discover which DNA sequence changes in a gene can cause disease,<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">Project, a joint project of HHS, DOE, and international partners in the</span></pre>
+
healthy people can be tested to see whether they risk developing conditions<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, China, connecting a gene with a</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">disease was a slow, arduous, painstaking, and frequently imprecise process.</span></pre>
+
such as diabetes or prostate cancer later in life. In many cases, this<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">Today, genes are discovered and described within days.&nbsp;For example, in</span></pre>
+
advance warning can be a cue to start a vigilant screening program, to take<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">1989, scientists found the gene for cystic fibrosis after a 9-year search;</span></pre>
+
preventive medicines, or to make diet or lifestyle changes that may prevent<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">eight years later, largely because of the coordinated efforts of the Human</span></pre>
+
the disease.<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">Genome Project, a gene for Parkinson's disease was mapped in only 9 days.</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">Now, scientists will be able to use the working draft of the human genome</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre>
+
* Reliably predict the course of disease. Diagnosing ailments more<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
precisely will lead to more reliable predictions about the course of a<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">to:</span></pre>
+
disease. For example, a genetic fingerprint will allow doctors treating<br />
<pre>
+
prostate cancer to predict how aggressive a tumor will be. New genetic<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
information will help patients and doctors weigh the risks and benefits of<br />
<pre>
+
different treatments.<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">* Alert patients that they are at risk for certain diseases.&nbsp;Once</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">scientists discover which DNA sequence changes in a gene can cause disease,</span></pre>
+
* Precisely diagnose disease and ensure the most effective treatment is<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">healthy people can be tested to see whether they risk developing conditions</span></pre>
+
used. Genetic analysis allows us to classify diseases, such as colon<br />
<pre>
+
cancer and skin cancer, into more defined categories. These improved<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
classifications will eventually allow scientists to tailor drugs for<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">such as diabetes or prostate cancer later in life. In many cases, this</span></pre>
+
patients whose individual response can be predicted by genetic<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">advance warning can be a cue to start a vigilant screening program, to take</span></pre>
+
fingerprinting. For example, cancer patients facing chemotherapy could<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">preventive medicines, or to make diet or lifestyle changes that may prevent</span></pre>
+
receive a genetic fingerprint of their tumor that would predict which<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">the disease.</span></pre>
+
chemotherapy choices are most likely to be effective, leading to fewer side<br />
<pre>
+
effects from the treatment and improved prognoses.<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
<br />
<pre>
+
<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">* Reliably predict the course of disease.&nbsp;Diagnosing ailments more</span></pre>
+
* Developing new treatments at the molecular level. Drug design guided by<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">precisely will lead to more reliable predictions about the course of a</span></pre>
+
an understanding of how genes work and knowledge of exactly what happens at<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">disease. For example, a genetic fingerprint will allow doctors treating</span></pre>
+
the molecular level to cause disease, will lead to more effective<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">prostate cancer to predict how aggressive a tumor will be.&nbsp;New genetic</span></pre>
+
therapies. In many cases, rather than trying to replace a gene, it may be<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">information will help patients and doctors weigh the risks and benefits of</span></pre>
+
more effective and simpler to replace a defective gene's protein product.<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">different treatments.</span></pre>
+
Alternatively, it may be possible to administer a small molecule that would<br />
<pre>
+
interact with the protein to change its behavior. This is the strategy<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
behind a drug in development for chronic myelogenous leukemia, which<br />
<pre>
+
targets the genetic flaw causing the disease. It attaches to the abnormal<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
protein caused by the genetic flaw and blocks its activity. In preliminary<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">* Precisely diagnose disease and ensure the most effective treatment is</span></pre>
+
tests, blood counts returned to normal in all patients treated with the<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">used.&nbsp;Genetic analysis allows us to classify diseases, such as colon</span></pre>
+
drug.<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">cancer and skin cancer, into more defined categories.&nbsp;These improved</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">classifications will eventually allow scientists to tailor drugs for</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">patients whose individual response can be predicted by genetic</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">fingerprinting.&nbsp;For example, cancer patients facing chemotherapy could</span></pre>
+
TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT REPRESENTS THE STARTING POINT FOR A NEW ERA OF GENETIC<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">receive a genetic fingerprint of their tumor that would predict which</span></pre>
+
MEDICINE. The sequence represents only the first step in the full decoding<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">chemotherapy choices are most likely to be effective, leading to fewer side</span></pre>
+
of the genome, because most of the individual genes and their specific<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">effects from the treatment and improved prognoses.</span></pre>
+
functions must still be deciphered and understood. This research has<br />
<pre>
+
begun, and already, tens of thousands of genes have been identified,<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
including some related to deafness, kidney disease, breast cancer,<br />
<pre>
+
hereditary skeletal disorders, hemorrhagic stroke and diabetes, thus<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
advancing the work of researchers worldwide at a rate that would have<br />
<pre>
+
impossible without these data. The Human Genome Project, which completed<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
its version of the working draft two years ahead of schedule and under<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">* Developing new treatments at the molecular level.&nbsp;&nbsp; Drug design guided by</span></pre>
+
budget, will continue its longstanding practice of making all of its<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">an understanding of how genes work and knowledge of exactly what happens at</span></pre>
+
sequencing data available to public and privately funded researchers<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">the molecular level to cause disease, will lead to more effective</span></pre>
+
worldwide at no cost. Celera Genomics, which makes its sequencing data<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">therapies.&nbsp;In many cases, rather than trying to replace a gene, it may be</span></pre>
+
available by subscription, will also make its version of the consensus<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">more effective and simpler to replace a defective gene's protein product.</span></pre>
+
human genome sequence available to non-subscribers upon publication.<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">Alternatively, it may be possible to administer a small molecule that would</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">interact with the protein to change its behavior.&nbsp;This is the strategy</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">behind a drug in development for chronic myelogenous leukemia, which</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">targets the genetic flaw causing the disease.&nbsp;It attaches to the abnormal</span></pre>
+
PRESIDENT CLINTON PLEDGES STRONG SUPPORT FOR GENETIC RESEARCH BY BOTH THE<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">protein caused by the genetic flaw and blocks its activity. In preliminary</span></pre>
+
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS. President Clinton reiterated the commitment of<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">tests, blood counts returned to normal in all patients treated with the</span></pre>
+
the United States to robust Federal support for basic scientific research<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">drug.</span></pre>
+
facilitating medical application of the science. President Clinton also<br />
<pre>
+
stated his support for a strong structure to review the medical, ethical<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
and other issues presented by the expected new power of genetic medicine,<br />
<pre>
+
building on the multi-million dollar investment the Human Genome Project<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
already makes in research on the social, ethical and legal implications of<br />
<pre>
+
this work. He recognized that research and development by biotechnology<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
companies will be key to the translation of human genome sequence data into<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT REPRESENTS THE STARTING POINT FOR A NEW ERA OF GENETIC</span></pre>
+
useful, new healthcare products and pledged to strengthen a business<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">MEDICINE.&nbsp;The sequence represents only the first step in the full decoding</span></pre>
+
environment that will spur research and development in this vital sector.<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">of the genome, because most of the individual genes and their specific</span></pre>
+
The President also reaffirmed his support for patenting genetic discoveries<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">functions must still be deciphered and understood.&nbsp;This research has</span></pre>
+
that have substantial and credible uses. By protecting and rewarding<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">begun, and already, tens of thousands of genes have been identified,</span></pre>
+
investment in research, consistent with current law, this policy of<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">including some related to deafness, kidney disease, breast cancer,</span></pre>
+
intellectual property protection will promote rapid conversion of basic<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">hereditary skeletal disorders, hemorrhagic stroke and diabetes, thus</span></pre>
+
knowledge into useful applications, while at the same time allowing a<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">advancing the work of researchers worldwide at a rate that would have</span></pre>
+
maximum free flow of basic scientific information.<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">impossible without these data. The Human Genome Project, which completed</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">its version of the working draft two years ahead of schedule and under</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">budget, will continue its longstanding practice of making all of its</span></pre>
+
TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT BUILDS ON THE CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION'S STRONG<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">sequencing data available to public and privately funded researchers</span></pre>
+
COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING PRIVATE GENETIC INFORMATION. Since 1997, the<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">worldwide at no cost.&nbsp;Celera Genomics, which makes its sequencing data</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">available by subscription, will also make its version of the consensus</span></pre>
+
President and Vice President have called for legislation that will<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">human genome sequence available to non-subscribers upon publication.</span></pre>
+
guarantee that Americans who are self-employed or otherwise buy health<br />
<pre>
+
insurance themselves will not lose or be denied that health insurance<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
because of their genetic makeup. Last winter, President Clinton signed an<br />
<pre>
+
executive order that prohibits every civilian Federal Department and agency<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
from using genetic information in any hiring or promotion action. This<br />
<pre>
+
historic action prevented critical information from genetic tests used to<br />
&nbsp;</pre>
+
help predict, prevent, and treat diseases, from being used against Federal<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">PRESIDENT CLINTON PLEDGES STRONG SUPPORT FOR GENETIC RESEARCH BY BOTH THE</span></pre>
+
employees. In addition, President Clinton has endorsed the Genetic<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.&nbsp;President Clinton reiterated the commitment of</span></pre>
+
Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act of 1999,<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">the United States to robust Federal support for basic scientific research</span></pre>
+
introduced by Senator Daschle and Congresswoman Slaughter, that will extend<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">facilitating medical application of the science. President Clinton also</span></pre>
+
these employment protections to the private sector and finish the job of<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">stated his support for a strong structure to review the medical, ethical</span></pre>
+
helping to extend protections to individuals purchasing health insurance,<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">and other issues presented by the expected new power of genetic medicine,</span></pre>
+
begun with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">building on the multi-million dollar investment the Human Genome Project</span></pre>
+
<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">already makes in research on the social, ethical and legal implications of</span></pre>
+
<b>Document Use and Credits<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">this work. He recognized that research and development by biotechnology</span></pre>
+
</b>Publications and webpages on this site were created by the U.S. Department of Energy Genome Program's Biological and Environmental Research Information System (BERIS). Permission to use these documents is not needed, but please credit the U.S. Department of Energy Genome Programs and provide the website http://genomics.energy.gov. All other materials were provided by third parties and not created by the U.S. Department of Energy. You must contact the person listed in the citation before using those documents.<br />
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">companies will be key to the translation of human genome sequence data into</span></pre>
+
&nbsp;</p>
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">useful, new healthcare products and pledged to strengthen a business</span></pre>
+
<p><a href="http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/project/clinton1.shtml">http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/project/clinton1.shtml</a></p>
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">environment that will spur research and development in this vital sector.</span></pre>
+
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">The President also reaffirmed his support for patenting genetic discoveries</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">that have substantial and credible uses. By protecting and rewarding</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">investment in research, consistent with current law, this policy of</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">intellectual property protection will promote rapid conversion of basic</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">knowledge into useful applications, while at the same time allowing a</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">maximum free flow of basic scientific information.</span></pre>
 
<pre>
 
&nbsp;</pre>
 
<pre>
 
&nbsp;</pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT BUILDS ON THE CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION'S STRONG</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING PRIVATE GENETIC INFORMATION.&nbsp;Since 1997, the</span></pre>
 
<pre>
 
&nbsp;</pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">President and Vice President have called for legislation that will</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">guarantee that Americans who are self-employed or otherwise buy health</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">insurance themselves will not lose or be denied that health insurance</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">because of their genetic makeup.&nbsp;Last winter, President Clinton signed an</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">executive order that prohibits every civilian Federal Department and agency</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">from using genetic information in any hiring or promotion action. This</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">historic action prevented critical information from genetic tests used to</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">help predict, prevent, and treat diseases, from being used against Federal</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">employees.&nbsp;In addition, President Clinton has endorsed the Genetic</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act of 1999,</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">introduced by Senator Daschle and Congresswoman Slaughter, that will extend</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">these employment protections to the private sector and finish the job of</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">helping to extend protections to individuals purchasing health insurance,</span></pre>
 
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt">begun with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.</span></pre>
 
<pre>
 
&nbsp;</pre>
 
<div><strong><span style="font-size: 9pt">Document Use and Credits</span></strong><span style="font-size: 9pt"><br />
 
Publications and webpages on this site were created by the U.S. Department of Energy Genome Program's <a href="http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/mission.shtml"><font color="#0000ff">Biological and Environmental Research Information System (BERIS)</font></a>. Permission to use these documents is not needed, but please credit the U.S. Department of Energy Genome Programs and provide the website http://genomics.energy.gov. All other materials were provided by third parties and not created by the U.S. Department of Energy. You must contact the person listed in the citation before using those documents.</span></div>
 
<div>&nbsp;</div>
 

Latest revision as of 21:21, 14 November 2010

 

PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST SURVEY OF THE ENTIRE HUMAN GENOME Hails Public and Private Efforts Leading to This Historic Achievement

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release June 25, 2000




PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCES THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST
SURVEY OF THE ENTIRE HUMAN GENOME
Hails Public and Private Efforts Leading to This Historic Achievement
June 26, 2000


Today, at a historic White House event with British Prime Minister Tony
Blair, President Clinton announced that the international Human Genome
Project and Celera Genomics Corporation have both completed an initial
sequencing of the human genome -- the genetic blueprint for human beings.
He congratulated the scientists working in both the public and private
sectors on this landmark achievement, which promises to lead to a new era
of molecular medicine, an era that will bring new ways to prevent,
diagnose, treat and cure disease. The President pledged to continue and
accelerate the United States' commitment to helping translate this
blueprint into novel healthcare strategies and therapies. He will
underscore that this genetic information must never be used to stigmatize
or discriminate against any individual or group. Our scientific advances
must always incorporate our most cherished values, and the privacy of this
new information must be protected.



DECODING THE HUMAN GENOME WILL LEAD TO NEW WAYS TO PREVENT, DIAGNOSE,
TREAT, AND CURE DISEASE. Alterations in our genes are responsible for an
estimated 5000 clearly hereditary diseases, such as Huntington's disease,
cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia, and influence the development of
thousands of other diseases. Before the advent of the Human Genome
Project, a joint project of HHS, DOE, and international partners in the
United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, China, connecting a gene with a
disease was a slow, arduous, painstaking, and frequently imprecise process.
Today, genes are discovered and described within days. For example, in
1989, scientists found the gene for cystic fibrosis after a 9-year search;
eight years later, largely because of the coordinated efforts of the Human
Genome Project, a gene for Parkinson's disease was mapped in only 9 days.
Now, scientists will be able to use the working draft of the human genome

to:


  • Alert patients that they are at risk for certain diseases. Once

scientists discover which DNA sequence changes in a gene can cause disease,
healthy people can be tested to see whether they risk developing conditions

such as diabetes or prostate cancer later in life. In many cases, this
advance warning can be a cue to start a vigilant screening program, to take
preventive medicines, or to make diet or lifestyle changes that may prevent
the disease.


  • Reliably predict the course of disease. Diagnosing ailments more

precisely will lead to more reliable predictions about the course of a
disease. For example, a genetic fingerprint will allow doctors treating
prostate cancer to predict how aggressive a tumor will be. New genetic
information will help patients and doctors weigh the risks and benefits of
different treatments.


  • Precisely diagnose disease and ensure the most effective treatment is

used. Genetic analysis allows us to classify diseases, such as colon
cancer and skin cancer, into more defined categories. These improved
classifications will eventually allow scientists to tailor drugs for
patients whose individual response can be predicted by genetic
fingerprinting. For example, cancer patients facing chemotherapy could
receive a genetic fingerprint of their tumor that would predict which
chemotherapy choices are most likely to be effective, leading to fewer side
effects from the treatment and improved prognoses.



  • Developing new treatments at the molecular level. Drug design guided by

an understanding of how genes work and knowledge of exactly what happens at
the molecular level to cause disease, will lead to more effective
therapies. In many cases, rather than trying to replace a gene, it may be
more effective and simpler to replace a defective gene's protein product.
Alternatively, it may be possible to administer a small molecule that would
interact with the protein to change its behavior. This is the strategy
behind a drug in development for chronic myelogenous leukemia, which
targets the genetic flaw causing the disease. It attaches to the abnormal
protein caused by the genetic flaw and blocks its activity. In preliminary
tests, blood counts returned to normal in all patients treated with the
drug.



TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT REPRESENTS THE STARTING POINT FOR A NEW ERA OF GENETIC
MEDICINE. The sequence represents only the first step in the full decoding
of the genome, because most of the individual genes and their specific
functions must still be deciphered and understood. This research has
begun, and already, tens of thousands of genes have been identified,
including some related to deafness, kidney disease, breast cancer,
hereditary skeletal disorders, hemorrhagic stroke and diabetes, thus
advancing the work of researchers worldwide at a rate that would have
impossible without these data. The Human Genome Project, which completed
its version of the working draft two years ahead of schedule and under
budget, will continue its longstanding practice of making all of its
sequencing data available to public and privately funded researchers
worldwide at no cost. Celera Genomics, which makes its sequencing data
available by subscription, will also make its version of the consensus
human genome sequence available to non-subscribers upon publication.



PRESIDENT CLINTON PLEDGES STRONG SUPPORT FOR GENETIC RESEARCH BY BOTH THE
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS. President Clinton reiterated the commitment of
the United States to robust Federal support for basic scientific research
facilitating medical application of the science. President Clinton also
stated his support for a strong structure to review the medical, ethical
and other issues presented by the expected new power of genetic medicine,
building on the multi-million dollar investment the Human Genome Project
already makes in research on the social, ethical and legal implications of
this work. He recognized that research and development by biotechnology
companies will be key to the translation of human genome sequence data into
useful, new healthcare products and pledged to strengthen a business
environment that will spur research and development in this vital sector.
The President also reaffirmed his support for patenting genetic discoveries
that have substantial and credible uses. By protecting and rewarding
investment in research, consistent with current law, this policy of
intellectual property protection will promote rapid conversion of basic
knowledge into useful applications, while at the same time allowing a
maximum free flow of basic scientific information.


TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT BUILDS ON THE CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION'S STRONG
COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING PRIVATE GENETIC INFORMATION. Since 1997, the

President and Vice President have called for legislation that will
guarantee that Americans who are self-employed or otherwise buy health
insurance themselves will not lose or be denied that health insurance
because of their genetic makeup. Last winter, President Clinton signed an
executive order that prohibits every civilian Federal Department and agency
from using genetic information in any hiring or promotion action. This
historic action prevented critical information from genetic tests used to
help predict, prevent, and treat diseases, from being used against Federal
employees. In addition, President Clinton has endorsed the Genetic
Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act of 1999,
introduced by Senator Daschle and Congresswoman Slaughter, that will extend
these employment protections to the private sector and finish the job of
helping to extend protections to individuals purchasing health insurance,
begun with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

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