The Human Genome Project is an international project officially begun in October 1990. Its aim is to identify and locate all of the approximately 30,000 genes in human DNA, to determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical bases that make up human DNA, and to store this information in databases.

The Human Genome Project is providing information about our genes that will greatly affect genetic testing and genetic screening. Genetic testing methods identify the presence or absence of a particular gene in an individual. Genetic screening is the testing of a whole population for the presence of particular genes.

The number of gene tests available is likely to rise as more is understood about the workings of the genes identified in this project. Tests may become available not just for inherited disorders, but also for genes involved in determining aspects of human behaviour.

The identification of genes that are associated with genetic diseases will enable further research into possible gene therapy processes.