The Human Genome Project aimed to decode the entire human genetic code, but ended up primarily using DNA from a single anonymous male donor, known as RP11. The project’s handling of donor sourcing and consent was ethically questionable, as donors were not informed that their DNA would make up the majority of the sequence. The decision to focus on a single donor was attributed to technical challenges and pressure from private-sector competition. Legal and ethics experts found the project’s actions concerning, as they contributed to a lack of trust in research, especially in minority communities. Despite these ethical issues, the genetic sequence from the project is still widely used today.
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Science revealed: The untold story of the Human Genome Project
