May 2002 ■ Journal of Dental Education 659 Transfer of Advances in Science into Dental Education The Genome Projects: Implications for Dental Practice and Education J. T. Wright, D.D.S., M.S.; T. C. Hart, D.D.S., Ph.D. Abstract: Information from the Human Genome Project (HGP) and the integration of information from related areas of study and technology will dramatically change health care for the craniofacial complex. Approaches to risk assessment and diagnosis, prevention, early intervention, and management of craniofacial conditions are and will continue to evolve through the application of this new knowledge. While this information will advance our health care abilities, it is clear that the dental profession will face challenges regarding the acquisition, application, transfer, and effective and efficient use of this knowledge with regards to dental research, dental education, and clinical practice. Unraveling the human genomic sequence now allows accurate diagnosis of numerous craniofacial conditions. However, the greatest oral disease burden results from dental caries and periodontal disease that are complex disorders having both hereditary and environmental factors determining disease risk, progression, and course. Disease risk assessment, prevention, and therapy, based on knowledge from the HGP, will likely vary markedly for the different complex conditions affecting the head and neck. Integration of Information from the human genome, comparative and microbial genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, and related technologies will provide the basis for proactive prevention and intervention and novel and more efficient treatment approaches. Oral health care practitioners will increasingly require knowledge of human genetics and the application of new molecular-based diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. Dr. Wright is Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, and Dr. Hart is Associate Professor, Department of Oral Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Direct correspondence and requests for reprints to Dr. Tim Wright, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Brauer Hall #7450, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599; 919-966-7992 fax; tim_wright@dentistry.unc.edu. Key words: genome, proteome, craniofacial, disease, education, oral Submitted for publication 2/6/01; accepted 4/10/02 R ough draft publication of the human genome in February 2001 was heralded as the great- est scientific achievement of humankind. 1 While it can be argued whether deciphering the hu- man genome is our greatest scientific achievement, there is no question that knowledge of the human and other genomes will have broad and diverse rami- fications for health care and society at large. As we move into the post-genomics era and information from the genome projects is put to practical use, it will become increasingly important for dental prac- titioners to understand human genetics and the rap- idly changing methods for selectively and appropri- ately applying this newly acquired and vast amount of knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to review how current information is being amassed from the Human Genome Project (HGP) and emerging tech- nologies, and provide a framework for the likely fu- ture directions and challenges that will be faced by the oral health profession. Integration of Information from Genome Projects and Related Fields The HGP goals of identifying all the genes coded in human DNA and sequencing the entire 3 billion base pair human genomic code are nearing completion and, even more, are providing massive amounts of information. This explosion of informa- tion coupled with the rapid development of molecu- lar biological and computational technologies is fu- eling a number of related fields of study and research. Integration of the information derived from these diverse yet related fields of study (Figure 1) will pro- vide impetus for change in fundamental approaches to certain aspects and areas of oral health care.