The DNA structure within living things contains all the information vital for life. A genome is the amount of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in an organism. The sequence of DNA in the genome shows us the genetic nature and sequence of all genes. Scientists have contemplated the human genome for many years, believing that it holds the secret to life. Chapter 7: The Human Genome: Life's Screenplay in James Watson's book DNA: The Secret of Life describes the history and origin of the Human Genome Project.

Scientists became interested in diagramming the genome for the first time. While preparing, they estimated a cost of several billion dollars. Two of their goals were to identify the thousands of genes in the human DNA and determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs (thymine, adenine, guanine, and cytosine). James Watson was one of the leading scientists...