The main objective of the project is to map the entire human DNA sequence. The project was planned to last 15 years, but rapid technological advances have moved the completion date to 2003.
The human species is so young according to evolutioin, and its migratory patterns are so wide, and restless, that it has simply not had the chance to divide itself into separate biological groups. The traits that are most commonly used to separate people such as distinguish one race from another, like skin and eye color, or the width of the nose, are traits controlled by a relatively few number of genes, and thus have been able to change quickly in response to the environment since the short existence of humans. With this "equatorial populations evolved dark skin, presumably to protect against ultraviolet radiation, while people in northern latitudes evolved pale skin, the better to produce vitamin D from pale sunlight" (Science, Angier). We have been programmed to separate people by visual observations instead of by going inside and determining our DNA sequences and make up. Gene clustering has been another idea, but it will be hard to make up new categories to put our population in.
Look at the technology used to do this; "Labs typically examine polymorphisms on the Y chromosome, similarities in mitochondrial DNA or patterns of markers in the highly variable human leukocyte antigen region (HLA) on chromosome 6, a region key to immune response" (Gene Letter, Lehrman). With the way genes are inherited, however, it's very possible that the tests could miss the genetic contributions of one grandparent and all his or her ancestors. Basically it comes down to the test being subject to failure, and they need to be improved for future use. Some of these test methods that will open the door to a cleaner environment. Bio-manufacturing will use nontoxic chemicals and enzymes to reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of industrial processes.
