Janus
19th May 2006, 07:06
Originally posted by BBC News
The sequence of the last chromosome in the human genome has been published, marking the completion of the Human Genome Project.
Chromosome one is the largest of the human chromosomes; it contains about 8% of our genome.
This chromosome is involved in over 350 diseases, including some cancers, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
The landmark paper was published in the journal Nature.
The Human Genome Project is an international research effort launched with the aim of sequencing every gene in the human genome - often described as the book of life.
'Gold-standard'
A draft of the genome was published in 2001, and in 2003, a far more accurate sequence was completed, although there were still some gaps in it.
But analysis of 22 numbered chromosomes, plus the X and Y chromosome, gives a "gold standard" for the gene content of the human genome. And the publication on chromosome 1 completes the set.
"This moment, the publication of the sequence from the last and largest human chromosome, completes the story of the Human Genome Project and marks the growing wave of biological and medical research founded on the human genome sequence," said Dr Simon Gregory, assistant professor from Duke University, who led the project while at the Sanger Institute.
The sequencing of chromosome one took an international team of scientists 10 years to complete. They found that it contains 3,141 genes, more than 1,000 of which were completely new to science.
"The interpretation of what the genes are and how these gene products interact with one another will be the next volume that follows on from this initial volume of this human genome," Dr Gregory told the BBC News website.
The chromosome has already been linked to many diseases. For example loss of chromosome one is common in lots of different types of cancers. Other conditions it is associated with include high cholesterol, and Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
It is hoped that the sequence will help researchers find new diagnostics and treatments.
"Chromosome one contains fascinating stories of chromosome biology, of our evolution, and our health, and it's inspiring to have played a part in a programme that will have so much power to understand the essence of human biology," said Dr Gregory.
The sequence of chromosome one, along with all of the other sequences, has been made publicly available.
The sequence of the last chromosome in the human genome has been published, marking the completion of the Human Genome Project.
Chromosome one is the largest of the human chromosomes; it contains about 8% of our genome.
This chromosome is involved in over 350 diseases, including some cancers, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
The landmark paper was published in the journal Nature.
The Human Genome Project is an international research effort launched with the aim of sequencing every gene in the human genome - often described as the book of life.
'Gold-standard'
A draft of the genome was published in 2001, and in 2003, a far more accurate sequence was completed, although there were still some gaps in it.
But analysis of 22 numbered chromosomes, plus the X and Y chromosome, gives a "gold standard" for the gene content of the human genome. And the publication on chromosome 1 completes the set.
"This moment, the publication of the sequence from the last and largest human chromosome, completes the story of the Human Genome Project and marks the growing wave of biological and medical research founded on the human genome sequence," said Dr Simon Gregory, assistant professor from Duke University, who led the project while at the Sanger Institute.
The sequencing of chromosome one took an international team of scientists 10 years to complete. They found that it contains 3,141 genes, more than 1,000 of which were completely new to science.
"The interpretation of what the genes are and how these gene products interact with one another will be the next volume that follows on from this initial volume of this human genome," Dr Gregory told the BBC News website.
The chromosome has already been linked to many diseases. For example loss of chromosome one is common in lots of different types of cancers. Other conditions it is associated with include high cholesterol, and Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
It is hoped that the sequence will help researchers find new diagnostics and treatments.
"Chromosome one contains fascinating stories of chromosome biology, of our evolution, and our health, and it's inspiring to have played a part in a programme that will have so much power to understand the essence of human biology," said Dr Gregory.
The sequence of chromosome one, along with all of the other sequences, has been made publicly available.