French and American scientists have published the entire genetic code of human chromosome 14, the largest of the 24 different human chromosomes. It is made up of over 87 million chemical letters (base-pairs) of DNA, and contains more than 60 genes known to be involved in diseases. Although a rough draft of the entire human genetic code was published over two years ago, this is the first 'gold standard' sequence for chromosome 14. Like chromosomes 20, 21 and 22, the sequence for chromosome 14 now has no gaps, and has been proof-read several times.
Scientists at Genoscope, the French national DNA sequencing centre, worked with teams at the Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, and the Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, to complete the project. 'At the present time this is the longest piece of contiguous DNA that has been sequenced. We made an effort to close all the gaps', said Jean Weissenbach, director of Genoscope.
The researchers identified 1050 genes on the chromosome, by comparing their data with corresponding genetic information from mice and zebra fish. They include genes involved in early-onset Alzheimer's disease, an extremely severe form of Usher syndrome and Niemann-Pick disease. 'The identification of disease genes will help us find out how diseases develop at a molecular level' Roland Heilig of Genoscope told BBC News Online.
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