Human Genome Project (1990-2003)
An international consortium spent $2.7 billion over 13 years to sequence the first human genome. Scientists manually decoded 3 billion base pairs using techniques that were state-of-the-art but labor-intensive. The project required coordination across 20 research centers in six countries.
Completed in 2003, two years ahead of schedule. Revealed humans have roughly 20,000-25,000 genes, far fewer than expected.
Spawned the genomics industry. Modern sequencing now costs under $1,000 and takes hours. The same pattern—from heroic coordinated effort to automated commodity—is what autonomous labs aim to replicate for materials.
The Human Genome Project established that massive scientific undertakings could be systematized and eventually automated. Autonomous materials labs represent a similar transition from artisanal expertise to industrial-scale discovery.