Genetic map of human diversity completed

Genetic map of human diversity completed

Scientists have successfully managed to put together the world's first genetic "map" of human differences with which it will be possible to accelerate the hunt for genes majorly responsible for general ailments like diabetes and heart diseases.

The study found that human genes are 99.9% alike and it's the other 0.1% which is responsible for major differences between two individuals. This disparity is chiefly caused by single letter differences in DNA, scientifically described as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

These SNP's are innately clustered into "haplotypes", which are amalgamations of slight variations in DNA that have been together over a period of time. In a human body, there are thought to be around 10 million SNPs.

Researchers managed to recognize 300,000 SNPs which can provide around 90% of the information obtained by looking at all 10 million primarily because they function like tags indicative of differences at a number of places. They believe the findings will increase the pace at which it is possible to search for the genes accountable for diseases 20-fold.

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HapMap has already been put to use by a UK team this year, which managed to locate a genetic disorder which considerably raises the chance of age-related macular degeneration, which leads to impaired vision in aged people.

Moreover, different groups are utilizing the data to identify genetic causes of diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, schizophrenia, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, high blood pressure etc.

A few experts did opine, though, that HapMap cannot be of any use for uncommon diseases.

HapMap thoroughly scrutinized the DNA samples of 269 people from Nigeria, Beijing, Tokyo and Utah. The research took the help of over 200 researchers from Canada, China, Japan, Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The map represents "a real sea change in how we study the genetics of disease," said Dr. David Altshuler, a leader of the significant study undertaken.

Altshuler, who does research at the Broad Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital explains that recognizing the disease-related genes would make it easier to diagnose, and also suggest remedies for the diseases.

This is all the more important due to the fact that genes causing common diseases in people are relatively difficult to spot, feels Dr. Altshuler.

Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt described the success as a “triumph for collaborative science."

Details of the findings have been published in the Oct. 27th issue of the journal, Nature.