The Human Genome Project

Floor Speech

Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, just before we left on break, Francis Collins came and talked to a small group of us at the Health Caucus one morning. Francis Collins, of course Dr. Collins, is the director of the National Institutes of Health and the lead of the human genome project in the National Institutes of Health when the human genome was finally solved a little less than a decade ago. Advances in genomics have really been startling, and the project continues to provide much excitement. Over 1,800 genes that cause disease have been discovered. Whole genomes for cancer cells have been mapped. That is remarkable.

The promise this research holds to help those suffering or likely to suffer from diseases or medical conditions is very real. I cannot overstate the significance of these advances. I have no doubt that the field of medicine will be revolutionized.

The technology has certainly evolved since I was a medical student some 40 years ago. Things that I would have never thought imaginable are now clearly within the reach and grasp of today's practitioner. In fact, the young men and women who are medical students and residents today, what a world they will live in. The science is going to be absolutely fantastic. And, indeed, their ability to relieve human suffering is going to be unlike anything that has been known by any generation of physicians that has preceded them.

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