Human Chromosome 21 Diversity

Chromosome 21

  • Three haplotypes describe 80% of human population

  • Far fewer haplotypes than expected

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Slide 28 of 109


In a detailed genetic analysis of human chromosome 21, scientists have found that the vast majority of human populations around the globe fall into only three haplotypes.1 This limited degree of genetic diversity was unexpected for a species that, from an evolutionary viewpoint, had its origins millions of years ago.

Definitions

Haplotype
A combination of alleles (alternate forms of the same gene) of closely linked loci that are found in a single chromosome and tend to be inherited together.

References

  1. Alfred, J. 2002. MULTIFACTORIAL GENETICS - Wafer thin diversity. Nature Reviews Genetics 3: 6.

 


Last Modified June 21, 2006