|Human Chromosomes 9 and 10 Are Complete|
By Kate Ruder
Posted: May 26, 2004
Scientists have completed the DNA sequences of human chromosomes 9 and 10, bringing the total number of finished human chromosomes to 11.
The Human Genome Project is in the process of creating “finished” sequences of the 24 human chromosomes. When a DNA sequence is finished, it is 99.9 percent accurate. The newly sequenced chromosomes are available online, and a summary of the findings appear this week in Nature.
Chromosome 9 has nearly 100 genes linked to human diseases. Earlier versions of the sequence have helped scientists identify genes involved in a rare neurodegenerative disorder similar to Huntington’s disease.
The chromosome also carries genes implicated in cancer, and XY “sex reversal,” a rare condition that occurs when a person is physically female but has male sex chromosomes.
Chromosome 10 carries genes linked to cancer and epilepsy, as well as genes associated with susceptibility to diseases like diabetes, schizophrenia, obesity, and Alzheimer’s.
Sean Humphray of The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in the United Kingdom led the sequencing of chromosome 9. Panagiotis Deloukas, also of Wellcome Trust, led the sequencing of chromosome 10.
The other finished human chromosomes are 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, and the Y.
For more news visit GNN’s Chromosome Page.