Knowing Thyself: Beyond the Human Genome Awaits the Human Microbiome
The fruits of the Human Genome Project (HGP), completed in 2003, have given scientists and researchers unparalleled insight into the structure and function of the human genome and ongoing research — such as the 1,000 Genomes Project and the Personal Genome Project — continue to refine our map of the human genome. But the human body is home to thriving microbial community where, by some estimates, human cells are outnumbered by microbial cells by a factor of ten to one.
In an attempt to gain a more complete understanding of the complexity of human microbial communities, in 2007 the NIH launched the Human Microbiome Project (HMP). The HMP’s goals include:
• Determining whether individuals share a core human microbiome
• Understanding whether changes in the human microbiome can be correlated with changes in human health
• Developing the new technological and bioinformatic tools needed to support these goals
• Addressing the ethical, legal and social implications raised by human microbiome research.
Last week, NIH awarded more than $42 million in grants through the HMP to “expand its exploration of how the trillions of microscopic organisms that live in or on our bodies affect our health.”
In addition to expanding the boundaries of genomics research in humans, the HMP — along with other projects like the BioWeatherMap that focus on the interactions between humans and microbial communities — offers the potential to expand the market for commercial genomic sequencing and interpretive services. Unlike the human genome, which is thought to be largely static throughout an individual’s lifetime, any human microbiome sequence is likely a snapshot of a dynamic and constantly evolving landscape. As the cost of whole-genome sequencing continues to fall, will routine microbiome sequencing become one of the next frontiers in personalized genomic sequencing and interpretation?
It’s hard predict exactly how shining a light on those trillions of microscopic organisms will change a genomics landscape in which change itself is the pervasive constant.
[Update 7/16: See more: PolITiGenomics offers "HMP Short Attention Span Theater" for those that would rather watch than read an introduction to the HMP.]
