A genome is the entire set of genetic material in an organism. The Human Genome Project was an international research project, completed in 2003, that mapped the whole human genome. It found the sequence of the bases in human DNA and the positions of the genes on the chromosomes.
The results have many potential uses in medicine. Scientists can identify genes linked to inherited disorders, and doctors can offer genetic testing to find out who is at risk. A person who learns they carry an allele that raises their risk of a disease can change their lifestyle to reduce that risk, or be screened early.
Knowing a patient's genes could allow personalised medicine, in which the drug and dose are chosen to suit that person. The project also helped scientists trace the migration of human populations around the world.
There are concerns as well. Genetic information is very personal, so there are worries about privacy and about insurers or employers using results unfairly. A positive test result may also cause anxiety, especially if no treatment is available.