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page 1 | page 2 | page 3 | page 4 | page 5 | page 6 | page 7 | page 8 | page 9 | page 10 | page 11 | table of contents | references | test by Jean F. Jenkins PhD, RN Article originally published September 30, 2000 Introduction The history of biology was altered a decade ago when significant research funding support was made available for the study of the human genome as part of the Human Genome Project (HGP) (Collins, 1999). This genome, made up of approximately 80,000-100,000 genes, contains the basic DNA information that directs the structure and function of the human body. The branch of biology that deals with genes is called genetics. As the result of dramatic advances from the HGP and other similar basic genetics research projects, the molecular essence of the human is about to be known. The outcomes of these endeavors have the potential to transform health care with significant implications for both providers and consumers of clinical services (Hayflick & Eiff, 1998). The purpose of this article is to provide a foundation from which the profession of nursing can build to enhance current skills and knowledge about genetics to prepare for this transformation in health care. This article will provide an overview of genetics including a historical perspective, examples of genetic health care, the nursing perspective, and ethical considerations and challenges.
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