Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome
This paper reported the results of the publicly funded Human Genome Project, presenting and making freely available a draft sequence covering the great majority of the human genome along with an initial analysis. The consortium described the broad genomic landscape—including gene content, repeat elements, GC content, and recombination rates—and estimated a surprisingly low number of protein-coding genes, on the order of roughly 30,000–40,000. The work provided a foundational reference for human biology, medicine, and evolutionary studies.