The field and term “genetics” originated in the early twentieth century. The term “new” genetics signifies the significant advancements in genetic understanding resulting from the increased knowledge of the biochemical basis in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In the late 1980s, when the proposal for substantial funding for the Human Genome Project was introduced in the United States, Dr. James Watson, the project’s initial director, recommended allocating 5% of the funding to investigate the “ethical, social, and legal implications” (ELSI) of human genetics.