Leroy Hood · Genome Medicine 2013 · narrative review · n=?

The human genome project: big science transforms biology and medicine

Cited 393 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

Narrative review and historical commentary with no primary empirical data (Level 5 by design analogy, not clinical CEBM)

OpenAlex W2158591705 · doi:10.1186/gm483 · record verified 2026-08-30

What was done

This is a narrative review and perspective article discussing the historical impact, methodology, and legacy of the Human Genome Project (HGP) and its cross-disciplinary big science model.

What was found

The abstract reports no numerical or quantitative findings. It describes non-quantitative developments resulting from the project, including reference genomes for humans and model organisms, open-source software and open data sharing, and subsequent consortia like HapMap, 1000 Genomes, and The Cancer Genome Atlas.

Why it matters

It summarizes how large-scale collaborative infrastructure and genomic tools from the Human Genome Project transformed biological sciences and precision medicine.

Limits

This is a non-systematic narrative commentary offering expert opinion. It presents no primary empirical data, quantitative measurements, or formal comparative analyses.

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