The speed of science is often excruciatingly slow. But over the last decade we've made significant strides in medical research, disease treatment and the improvement of patients' quality of life. Whether it's a change in public policy or one of the largest scientific undertakings in history, these 10 advances have affected medicine in a big way.
1. In April 2003, scientists announced they had completed a draft sequencing of the human genome, or all the genes that make up our DNA. This established the order of the more than 3 billion letters in what's often called "the book of life." Gene sequencing has helped researchers identify single genes that cause diseases and, in turn, has aided in creating better treatments. Scientists are now working on the Human Microbiome Project in hopes of better understanding the complex bacterial systems that live in and on our bodies.
2. Stem cells can essentially be programmed to become any type of cell in the body.
