Abstract
The Human Genome Project has been carried out during past 10 years as an international cooperative effort organized as Human Genome Organization (HUGO). Completion of the analysis has just been announced in June, 2000, and more detailed analysis of the functions of the human genes and related DNA sequences will be the next target of the international research race. In particular, single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNP, would be of great interest in the pharmaceutical business and industry. Bioethical issues are closely related to the human genome analysis, and they have been discussed extensively in the HUGO International Ethics Committee, of which the author of this article is co-chairperson. Common international principles of the ethical issues are indispensable, but we should understand that there may be unique ethical standards in different areas of the world, particularly in Asian countries.
