The Human Genome Project (HGP) is a research program that has international cooperation with the goal of trying to build a detailed map of the human genome. The human genome is a complete set of genes found within the human chromosome. There is an estimated 50,000-100,000 genes with in a single set of chromosomes. To accomplish this enormous task several countries have been asked to help with the research. Those countries include England, Scotland, France, Japan and the United States of America. There is an agreement between the counties that any and all information discovered is to be shared with all of the researching partners, so as to make this one large effort instead of several smaller efforts. Another reason for the cooperation is with up to 100,000 different genes someone needs to double check the work being done so there are no missed steps or wrong data.
In the U.S. the research began in the mid-80's and was widely discussed in the scientific community. The idea was publicized and heavily scrutinized by both the press and the public because of the fear of the cloning of a human. The research was being conducted by two agencies in the government, first the Department of Energy (DOE) and then soon thereafter the National Institute of Health (NIH). The agencies were working separately with slow progress so they joined forces and with in a short period of time realized that this was a better situation. In 1988 the two agencies put the relationship into writing by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. The idea behind this memo was taking the two labs and making them one big one with more people and recourses and thus came the HGP.
In 1990 the HGP set out specific goals that were to be met in five-year increments, and that the project would only last for fifteen years. The project was doing well and was getting so far ahead that in 1993 the goals had to be updated and would be reevaluated every five years.