.
The Office of Technology Assessment and the National Research Council prepared a report describing the plans for the US human genome project and is updated as further progress in the basic technology occur. .
To achieve the scientific goals, which together encompass the human genome project, a number of administrative measures have been put in place. In addition, a newsletter, an electronic bulletin board, a comprehensive administrative data base, and other communications tools are being set up to facilitate communication and tracking of progress. The overall budget needs for the efforts are expected to be about $200 million per year for approximately 15 years. .
Lasers are used in the detection of DNA in many aspects of the project; a very important use is in sorting chromosomes by flow cytometry. Lasers are also used in confocal fluorescence laser microscopy to excite fluorescently tagged molecules in genome mapping, in addition to other mapping uses. In diagnostic applications, lasers are used with fluorescent probes attached to DNA to light up chromosomes and to create patterns on DNA chips. .
From the beginning of the human genome project it was clearly recognized that acquisition and use of such genetic knowledge would have momentous involvements for both individuals and society and would pose a number of consequential choices for public and professional deliberation. .
As Thomas Lee writes, "the effort underway is unlike anything ever before attempted, if successful, it could lead to our ultimate control of human disease, aging, and death". .
Whatever its justification, the human genome project has already inspired society with the hope of "better" babies, and one way to deploy pragmatism in the analysis of genetic engineering is to look at this promise of "better" babies in its social context: parenthood. Parents hope for healthy children and, if they could afford it, make choices (such as choosing parental care) to help "engineer" healthier babies.
