Annex, contact and references

The future

The genetically engineered products described in this brochure are not the only ones: an impressive list of recombinant products already on the market or soon to be introduced could easily be compiled. After nearly thirty years of experience, genetic engineering has become a standard (but not trivial) technique for the development of new or improved products or production processes to be used in healthcare, industry and agriculture. The immediate future will therefore see a continuation in innovations in these areas. But even more exciting developments are coming.

In June 2000, scientists of the international Human Genome Project (HGP) and of the company Celera Genomics announced the (near) completion of the DNA sequence of the human genome. Earlier, scientists had already elucidated the DNA sequences of the genomes of organisms that play an important role as research models or production organism in healthcare, industry or agriculture. With the genomes of man, mammals, insects (fruitfly), plants, fish (Zebra fish), worms (C. elegans), yeast and bacteria unraveled, powerful knowledge has become available for the next step: elucidating the function of the DNA. This field of research is called 'functional genomics' and will provide new insight into origin, growth and health of all living organisms, as well as knowledge about diseases and disorders. Combining functional genomics with genetic engineering techniques will, in the future, lead to new compounds or DNA repair procedures to safeguard and improve health and well being of humans, animals, plants and the earth itself as never before.