THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

      BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21218

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

27 March 1990

Dear

   I would like to join a rather large number of my colleagues
in the biosciences in questioning the real value of the human genome
project, the extremely expensive proposal that is now beginning to
emerge from the National Institutes of Health.  The program, even in
its early stages, would require more than $200 million, and I gather
that the estimate for a more-or-less complete job would be closer to
$3 billion.  There are a number of questions of a scientific nature
that make the project of questionable interest.   It is well-known
that about 95% of the genetic material in the human genome is basically
"filler" and a total sequencing of the genome would involve a great
deal of wasted time and effort.  I do believe that the approach favored
by individuals such as Dr. Victor McKusick at Johns Hopkins, aimed
at locating and sequencing specific portions of the genome related to
human disease,  would make a much more sensible beginning.

Sincerely yours, ,

Professor of Biology

CBA:djh