edit: you may have also skipped over my initial objection as "improving sequencing" would have been a great use of those funds.
I come at it from the plant side which did plenty of useful and actual DNA manipulation without a "map". Vs. the human side which was almost entirely focused on drugs.
So, saying it's necessary is absolute bullshit. Useful, sure, necessary no.
Further, if they had waited 5 years to start they could have finished at the same time or even faster for less money. It's execution was an extreme waste of resources without any need to 'hurry'.
Remember 1990 was 28 fucking years ago it was a very different time.
PS: That said 3 billion is a literal drop in the bucket. And yea, the output was not worthless in absolute terms, my objection is simply one of timing. It would have been like trying to build self driving cars in 1950 the tech was simply not ready.
I come at it from the plant side which did plenty of useful and actual DNA manipulation without a "map". Vs. the human side which was almost entirely focused on drugs.
So, saying it's necessary is absolute bullshit. Useful, sure, necessary no.
Further, if they had waited 5 years to start they could have finished at the same time or even faster for less money. It's execution was an extreme waste of resources without any need to 'hurry'.
Remember 1990 was 28 fucking years ago it was a very different time.
PS: That said 3 billion is a literal drop in the bucket. And yea, the output was not worthless in absolute terms, my objection is simply one of timing. It would have been like trying to build self driving cars in 1950 the tech was simply not ready.