Darwin theories are confirmed, research team leader declares

Studies of the human genome are confirming the theories of evolution put forward by Charles Darwin, according to a scientist involved in the research. Unveiling the genome was also likened to the achievements of Bach and Shakespeare.

"We are confirming Darwin. That is the most useful take-home message from this," said Sir John Sulston, former director of the Wellcome Trust's Sanger Centre, who led the team which sequenced a third of the genome.

"It's great to be getting the molecular correlates of what Darwin hypothesised 150 years ago. It is the unity of life, or nature being conservative, or the idea of the blind watchmaker - the notion of evolution as a constant reworking or random recombining of parts.

"You convert your Austin 7 into a Mercedes, but basically it's the same underneath."

Prof Richard Dawkins, Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford, likened the accomplishment to other great human and personal endeavours.

"Along with Bach's music, Shakespeare's sonnets and the Apollo space programme, the Human Genome Project is one of those achievements of the human spirit that makes me proud to be a human."

Dr Mike Stratton, head of the Human Cancer Genome Project at the Sanger Centre, said the discoveries coming from the genome research would mean a much better chance of cancer survival in the future. There will be a significant, major transformation of cancer treatment over the next 20 years."

Dr Michael Dexter, director of the Wellcome Trust, which committed £210 million to the Human Genome Project, said the HGP sequence would become one of the most valuable maps in the history of humankind, and a timeless resource in decades to come.

"It will guide researchers for centuries, even if every inch isn't explored or used tomorrow," he said. "This information will be used to inform us on why people respond badly to some drugs.

"It may well be used to inform us why some drugs early in development were withdrawn and are now on the shelves of pharmaceutical companies, gathering dust, drugs that might be very useful to treat patients with disease.

"If you could identify those patients where the drug was toxic versus those patients where the drug would have its desired effect, then there's a potential treasure chest out there of medicine already discovered and partially developed but which cannot yet be used."

Prof Martin Bobrow, Professor of Medical Genetics at Cambridge University, said knowledge from the Human Genome Project would lead to better and clearer diagnosis of genetic diseases and the prospect of innovations in tackling infectious diseases such as AIDS and tuberculosis.

Additional reporting PA