The Takeda Award 2001


3. Repercussion effects
The achievement of Venter and Hunkapiller has wide and profound repercussion effects. The foundation of Celera and the attempt to sequence the human genome stimulated the HGP and accelerated their efforts(19). They completed the draft sequence of the human genome in June, 2000, and shortened the original schedule for the completion of the sequencing of the human genome from 2005 to 2003. The acceleration of genome sequencing by Hunkapiller and Venter has pushed the genomic research forward and post-sequencing research has already started. The sequencing of the human genome by Celera Genomics has produced the very important engineering intellect and knowledge that the sequencing of large genomes, such as the human genome, can be conducted rapidly by the application of the whole genome shotgun method using systematic and concentrated production and treatment of large scale information in one place. The effectiveness and swiftness of the Celera's method demonstrated the importance of the collaboration between biologists and information scientists, and the power of large scale computers in genetics. Their methods can be applied to many areas of bioscience and technology and their achievement opens new horizons in the combination of information technology and bioscience, bioinformatics. Their achievement also demonstrated that a commercial enterprise sometimes can conduct a large-scale basic research such as the sequencing of the human genome in a faster and more economical fashion than publicly funded research and this fact has encouraged the private sector to invest in other genomic companies, and the number of genome-related venture companies has doubled in two years(20). The successful use of high-throughput DNA sequencers for human genome sequencing has made scientists realize their usefulness in the sequencing of genomes of other animals and plants, which have enormous potential in both medicine and agriculture. The commercialization of high-throughput DNA sequencers has also contributed to the growth of the biotech instruments industry, which manufactures not only DNA sequencers, but also DNA and peptide synthesizers, peptide sequencers, mass spectrometers, and DNA microchips. Thus, the achievements by Hunkapiller and Venter in genome sequencing is having a great impact on both scientific and industrial sectors and is expected to be of great benefit to Individual/Humanity Well-Being.